Mary Macleod to be Small Business Ambassador

Mary Macleod MP with the Prime Minister in Downing Street

Local MP will champion London business 

Brentford and Isleworth MP Mary Macleod was named as London’s Small Business Ambassador by Prime Minister David Cameron at a reception celebrating small business in 10 Downing Street yesterday.

 As part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to support small businesses, twelve Small Business Ambassadors have been appointed nationwide and will help promote and represent small businesses across the country and government. 

 Small businesses – those which employ up to 50 employees - contribute half of the jobs and half of the private sector turnover in the economy. Last year the Government presided over the largest number of business start-ups in a 12-month period in recorded history. This Government has already implemented a raft of measures that have provided real help to small businesses up and down the country, including a £2000 National Insurance cut, start-up loans and access to finance through the new Business Bank.

Mary said: “I am delighted to accept this position as London’s Small Business Ambassador. In my constituency we have amongst the fastest growth in new businesses in the country, with 590 new businesses registered in 2011-12. I want to use this opportunity to celebrate what small businesses do for London and I want to listen to what more we can do within Government to help them grow and prosper. I very much look forward to working with small businesses across London and championing their messages within Government.”

Prime Minister David Cameron said: “Conservatives understand how crucial small businesses are to the British economy and our recovery. That’s why we have improved every part of the life-cycle of a small business – helping businesses set up, making it easier to grow, removing red tape and assisting businesses to export. We are on the side of those who want to work hard and get on in life. Nothing represents this aspiration more than British small business owners.

“I have appointed Mary as London’s Small Business Ambassador and eleven other business-savvy MPs from around the country as the Party’s Small Business Ambassadors. With this team we will be able to create greater awareness of Government offers and listen to the business community so that we can continue to improve what we are already doing.”

Matthew Hancock MP, Minister for Skills and Conservative Small Business Champion, who will lead the campaign, said: “This Government has done a huge amount to help small business, but there is much more to do. I am delighted to be the Conservative Small Business Champion and I will be putting forward the case for small business across Government. I am also looking forward to working with our Small Business Ambassadors in their new roles, reaching out to businesses and their associations across the country.”

Small businesses who want to learn more about getting involved should visit:

http://www.conservatives.com/Information/SmallBusiness2

PHOTO

Mary with the Prime Minister, David Cameron, Skills Minister Matthew Hancock MP and the other eleven Small Business Ambassadors

 

The twelve Small Business Ambassadors are:

1.            LONDON: Mary Macleod (Brentford and Isleworth)

2.            NORTH: Eric Ollerenshaw (Lancaster and Fleetwood)

3.            YORKSHIRE: Julian Smith (Skipton and Ripon)

4.            MIDLANDS: Marcus Jones (Nuneaton)

5.            EAST: Richard Fuller (Bedford)

6.            EAST: Brooks Newmark (Braintree)

7.            SOUTH EAST: Damian Collins (Folkestone)

8.            SOUTH: Caroline Dinenage (Gosport)

9.            WALES: Alun Cairns (Vale of Glamorgan)

10.          WEST: John Penrose (Weston Super Mare) 

11.          SOUTH WEST: Anne-Marie Morris (Newton Abbott)

12.          NORTH:  Stephen Mosley (Chester)

The role of Ambassadors

  • Act as an Ambassador to businesses and stakeholders
  • Campaign with small businesses, reaching out beyond immediate constituencies to Regional CBI's, LEPs, Chambers of Commerce and other organisations.
  • Work with local business organisations and communicating policies on small business.
  • Hold monthly business events
  • Help to organise central initiatives, such as Small Business Saturdays, and local initiatives alongside Parliamentary colleagues in the region.