It has been revealed that business secretary Vince Cable and Green Party leader Caroline Lucas are the latest MPs to sign up to the Business Buddy scheme, along with 102 other MPs.
Run by the Forum of Private Business (FPB), the MPs will take part in hands on work experience at a small business located in their own constituency. The scheme is set to take place this summer during the parliamentary break and is hoping to give MPs a deeper understanding of how small businesses operate and the challenges that they face.
Vince Cable will be carrying out his week of work experience with a furniture manufacturer in Twickenham, while Caroline Lucas will be based in Brighton with a fruit and veg wholesaler.
Other high-profile politicians taking part include shadow education secretary Andy Burnham, who will visit a chemical company in Leigh, and Shadow Cabinet Office and Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell who will be with a wholefood retailer in Brixton.
The head of campaigns at FPB, Jane Bennett has said: “Obviously, we’re especially pleased that Vince Cable has agreed to spend time with one of our members, it’s quite something for the owner of a small company to be able to communicate their issues and concerns directly to the business secretary.
“However, every MP’s involvement in the scheme is very valuable,” she added. “It will give small-business owners across the UK a voice in the corridors of power in Westminster and hopefully help to influence the business policies of the main political parties.
The scheme is intended to help support the FPB Get Britain Trading campaign, which drives support for small businesses in order for them to receive more help from the Government.
Photo by Andrew Sales – CC
