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HMRC staff take ‘work experience’ at small businesses

HM Revenue & Customs officials are to gain hands-on experience of life in small businesses through a Forum of Private Business initiative.

‘Business Buddy’ has already seen more than 70 politicians placed in firms in their constituencies.

Placements included Business Secretary and Twickenham MP Vince Cable at a furniture manufacturer, Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham at a chemical factory in his Leigh constituency and Green Party leader Caroline Lucas, who took to the tills at a fruit and vegetable shop in Brighton.

In the first HMRC visit today, HMRC staff will spend time at Sinnet & Tansley, a firm of Chartered Accountants in Reading.

Staff at HMRC are hoping to develop a greater understanding of the trials, tribulations and opportunities facing small business owners in order to improve working relationships with them.

Phil Orford, the Forum’s Chief Executive, said: “Clearly, there’s no substitute for first-hand experience. We are widening the Business Buddy scheme so that HMRC officials can take part in order to gain a greater understanding of what it takes to grow and run a small firm, and also explore how they can work together more effectively, for the good of the economy as a whole.”

An HMRC spokesman said: “The Business Buddy scheme provides a great opportunity for our staff to learn what life is like for small business owners.

“Understanding the challenges small firms face helps us design better services for the future and support them in getting their tax right quickly and easily.”

Ahead of the visit, David Tansley of Sinnett & Tansley said: I think that it is important that government and its agencies understand the problems that small businesses face as government plays a big part in shaping the environment that these businesses operate in.“

Business owners taking part in the 2011 scheme were asked to complete a survey about their experiences, and 87% of respondents said that the state of the economy was a major issue they discussed with their local political representative.

In addition, 66% of respondents cited ‘local business issues’ on their doorsteps as a leading topic of conversation, 66% mentioned regulation in general and 61% consumer and business confidence.

Overall, 53% of respondents said they found the meetings ‘very useful’, and a 71% of participants said that their meetings ended in agreed action points.

Previously commenting on the business buddy scheme, the Prime Minister, said: “The Coalition Government is committed to making the coming decade the most entrepreneurial and dynamic in Britain’s history.

“To make this a reality, we need to understand the real issues that small businesses face on a day-to-day basis and use that information to help ensure that entrepreneurs are given every opportunity to successfully start and grow their businesses.

“I would encourage all members of Parliament to take advantage of this opportunity to find out what it is really like to run a small business and to gain a better understanding of the many issues faced by small businesses across the country.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .