Member Article

FSB North East urges small businesses to get rates relief

Business owners are being urged to find out if they are eligible for lower rates during a special meeting in Gateshead next week.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has teamed up with Gateshead Business to organise a session to raise awareness of rate relief available to firms as well as explaining how rates are set.

Gateshead Business will also be explaining how a new portal that helps local firms bid for work from each other during the information session.

Ted Salmon, the Chairman of the South Tyne and Wear Branch of the FSB, which has helped organise the event, said: “We are often asked about business rates and would encourage businesses to ensure they are paying the correct amount. Some businesses are often eligible for rate relief but are unaware of it.

“We also get a lot of queries about who sets the rates and who collects them, so we are planning a number of these sessions across our branch area to raise awareness and to allow businesses to air their concerns.”

Mr Salmon added that he was delighted that Gateshead Business, the business arm of Gateshead Council, was the first to arrange the meeting.

Vince Vallely, Head of Gateshead Business Network, said that he also wanted to help the 11,000 businesses within Gateshead understand more about business rates.

He added: “We are committed to helping the organisations within Gateshead receive the best advice and information so they get the most out of working in Gateshead.

“The session is all part of our plan to increase communication with local businesses and we were delighted to help the FSB.

“We will also be able to explain more about our business to business portal during the meeting. The portal will help Gateshead firms work with each other by advertising their contracts. We want to keep more money spent by companies here within Gateshead.

“What we’ve found is that many businesses have something to offer others in the area, but don’t know about each other.”

Ted Salmon welcomed the new business to business portal, and said it was encouraging as it echoed the FSB’s own Keep Trade Local campaign.

“Gateshead Business should be commended for recognising that local economies will be enhanced if trade is kept locally.

“We want to make sure our members and the wider business community know that the portal is available to them, and we’re looking forward to finding out more during the meeting.”

Business owners, both FSB members and non-members, are invited to attend the Rates Summit meeting on Thursday, September 19 at Gateshead Civic Centre from 4pm. Free refreshments will be provided with networking available at the end of the meeting. To join us go to http://wheredoyourbusinessratesgo.eventbrite.com

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Federation of Small Businesses .