UK Parliament Launches Inquiry into Small Business Strategy - Opportunity for Place-Based Contributors to Have Their Say

The House of Commons Business and Trade Committee has launched an inquiry to shape the Government’s forthcoming Small Business Strategy, due in 2025. The aim is to make recommendations that will support small businesses to contribute more effectively to the UK’s economic growth, boost local incomes, and reduce regional inequalities.

The Committee is seeking views from across the business community, local government, academia, and the voluntary sector. IPM welcomes the inquiry and encourages members and wider networks to consider submitting evidence, particularly from a place-based or town centre perspective.

Several questions in the call for evidence align closely with the interests and expertise of IPM members and others working on local economic development, high street vitality, and place leadership. These include:

Question 1, 2 & 7:

  • What key issues should be addressed in the strategy?
  • How can policymakers ensure that the voice of small businesses’ is heard in government?
  • What are the current challenges to the long-term sustainability of the high street, including ownership of the high street, and what are the consequences of these trends for SMEs?

 Question 4:

  • What challenges do small businesses face in competing with larger firms?

 Question 10 & 14:

  • Does the current business support offer meet SME needs?
  • How should work across multiple government departments, mayoral strategic authorities, and local authorities be coordinated to support the growth of SMEs?

 Question 15:

  • What metrics should be used to judge the success of the strategy?

IPM believes the voice of place-based professionals and practitioners is vital to shaping a strategy that reflects real-world conditions. Whether you're working in local authorities, town centre partnerships, business support, regeneration, or research- your insights matter and we want to hear about them.

The deadline for written submissions is Wednesday 16 July 2025 and the call for evidence is available at: Call for Evidence - Committees - UK Parliament

Please get in touch with IPM if you are interested in replying to this call for evidence at: ipm@mmu.ac.uk

IPM

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IPM

Formed in 2006, the Institute of Place Management is the international professional body that supports people committed to developing, managing and making places better.

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