Government contracts for SMEs would boost economy

More government contracts for small to medium enterprises (SMEs) would boost the economy, according to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).

Research published today (14 October) by the FSB revealed that 75% of small firms believe the government is unresponsive and that too many resources are required when it comes to procuring work from Whitehall.

The survey of more than 500 firms, which was conducted by FreshMinds, suggests that there are too many barriers when it comes to securing government contracts.

John Wright, national chairman of the FSB, said: "Without government support, small businesses are put at a disadvantage."

"We need to see actions implemented so we can ensure SMEs are represented fairly when tendering for government contracts."

He added that SMEs should be made aware of the practical steps they can take to improve their bids.

There are currently over 215,000 businesses that are members of the FSB, which exists to protect the interests of the UK's small business sector.