Support for small businesses is needed now more than ever
For many small businesses around the Down and Belfast area, Graeme Weir is a familiar face.
For the last seventeen years, Graeme has worked as a Membership Advisor for FSB (Federation of Small Businesses) having previously owned and ran many small businesses of his own.
He has seen it all down through the years whether in the care of his own enterprises or in his FSB role that brings him into contact with a wide range of sectors and scales of business.
Despite the peaks and troughs for businesses in his almost two decades in the role, Graeme maintains that the sheer resilience of small businesses here has meant that it remains the biggest employer sector in Northern Ireland.
This sector is surely one to be protected and supported as much as possible.
Over the last few years, the waves of challenges that have faced SMEs include the Brexit Transition, a global pandemic, a cost-of-living crisis, and now a major energy and cost-of-doing-business crisis.
Sometimes it is difficult to see how many of our businesses continue to look to the future and plan ahead.
But Graeme maintains that it has always been the case that before it became a buzzword, small businesses learned to “picot” and innovate and find a new way of doing things to work around issues.
Graeme said: “My role with the FSB is to encourage businesses to take up membership. It is a membership organisation, owned by the members and providing the many ‘back room team’ services that so many SMEs couldn’t afford to have in-house.
“The benefits are many such as our members can lift the phone 24/7 and get legal advice from a qualified solicitor without paying anything extra. Through the years I have had countless businesses save thousands of pounds when called up for a tax inspection as FSB handle it all for our members.
“That level of back-up and support is immeasurable for businesses when they’re facing a difficult issue.
“Aside from that tangible service side of things, we also have policy staff specifically working on Northern Ireland issues, so if members are flagging difficulties with a specific issue, the local team will often lobby on their behalf to decision makers and politicians to illustrate the case for small businesses.
“At the minute the team are calling for better support on the energy crisis, as well as issues such as late payments, childcare, VAT and other problems members are bringing forward.
“I suppose in a way, FSB is a safety net giving practical assistance where possible but also because of its collective voice (with almost 6,000 members in Northern Ireland) – we can get the messages from small businesses to the ears that need to listen.”
Graeme is aware that a number of businesses are really currently struggling. He knows the importance of current FSB members sharing their experiences to give strength to them and getting the FSB to help on their behalf. But he is also encouraged by the historical resistance and the spirit small businesses have had.
He added: “Through the years we have seen so many different crises hit our economy and of course small businesses will find it more difficult with limited resources to absorb higher costs or more bureaucracy.
“But I have always been impressed by how those businesses find new ways to get through and keep the head above water.
“There is no doubt it is difficult for many people right now and I would say to anyone feeling completely overwhelmed to speak to someone, even if it is a fresh pair of eyes on a potential plan or an encouraging word to keep going.
“No-one should feel alone on this. FSB members have access to a great benefit called FSB Care but for any small business owner feeling overcome, it is vital to speak to someone and get some support.
“My door is always open to speak to small businesses and I know my colleagues across Northern Ireland feel the same.
“FSB want to get your voice to the decision-makers and improve the outlook for our small business economy.”
Graeme can be contacted at:
graeme.weir@fsb.org.uk
or visit:
to learn more about small business support available.
