Responding to the draft Programme for Government, FSB drew on foundation research it commissioned from the Ulster Business School, which provides the most authoritative evaluation to date of the primary role that small businesses play in both the economy and wider society in Northern Ireland.
Wilfred Mitchell OBE, FSB Policy Chair for Northern Ireland, said: “The FSB welcomes this new approach of a framework with indicators, which we hope will improve interdepartmental working. Whilst detailed delivery and action plans will follow, FSB is calling for the economic priority to be that of growing the private sector.
“We recognise that social and economic progress are interrelated, so by improving the economy there will be direct improvements in other key areas. Specifically, by supporting our small business sector and helping to create and grow new businesses, the Northern Ireland Executive can help build confidence which will lead to more employment, innovation and exports. This will increase prosperity, self-reliance, and well-being, so the Northern Ireland Executive needs to place small businesses firmly at the centre of all of its plans.
“This draft Programme is a good start but its effectiveness will rely on robust action and delivery plans for the Departments and agencies, and it will be in the performance and outputs of these that success will be judged.”
The full copy of the FSB response to the Draft Framework for the Programme for Government 2016-2021 can be downloaded from the FSB website under Publications.
