Business groups and regulators in Coventry and Warwickshire have launched a project to help break down the barriers that are sometimes experienced between them.
Better Business for All consists of staff from trading standards, environmental health, licensing, environmental protection, the fire service, HMRC, the Environment Agency and the health and safety executive working together, particularly in support of SMEs across Coventry and Warwickshire.
The project is being supported by the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP), the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Small Businesses and is centred on improving communication and understanding with SMEs in all sectors.
As part of the scheme, Trading Places gives regulators the chance to visit businesses to gain a valuable insight into how they deal with regulation so that both sides understand each other’s perspective.
Hamish Simmonds, Head of Regulatory Services at Coventry City Council, said it was important to dispel some of the myths surrounding regulation.
“If someone is planning to develop a business, take it in a different direction or grow their company, my advice would be to encourage them to speak to regulators at an early stage,” he said.
“We can anticipate many potential problems they may encounter through our experience of working with a wide spectrum of businesses and help plan the things they may need to do that they may not be aware of. We also give advice on things they thought they needed to do but which they don’t, which will save them money.
“Signing up to Trading Places is an ideal way for businesses and regulators to improve communication because it gives regulators a valuable insight into how businesses are run and the challenges they may face.
“We would like people to understand that there are rules and regulations that they need to comply with but we also need to look at how we get the message across and ‘bust’ some of the myths that exist.
“That is why we are currently working on introducing a charter which will show that we are here to help those businesses who want to engage with us.”
Bruce Undy, CWLEP board member who represents the FSB and Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said having one point of contact to access this kind of business support would be a useful way in supporting businesses in a practical and effective manner.
“Businesses always say they want red tape to be reduced and the CWLEP is committed to helping put that into practice,” he said.
“Better Business for All is taking a step towards that by spending time understanding businesses in their Trading Places initiative and the problems they face on a daily basis so that they have a better appreciation of the pressures the business community encounters and can put their findings into action in the support services which are provided.
“We hope this will build trust between regulators and businesses as well as ensuring SMES are provided with the correct advice and guidance from regulatory services.”
