Basingstoke MP Maria Miller met recently with representatives from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to discuss a range of issues affecting micro and small businesses.

Maria heard from Tim Colman, FSB Hampshire Chair, about the difficulties that micro and small businesses experience in accessing local government procurement opportunities and also heard that the Borough Council had worked hard to improve this, resulting in them winning the FSB Small Business Friendly Procurement Award twice in the last three years.

Maria also discussed with the FSB the support available for entrepreneurs and business start-ups, and how to help small businesses overcome the challenges of moving into exports.

Maria said: “I was glad to have this opportunity to discuss these issues with the FSB and the Borough Council, and interested to hear more about the FSB’s Keep Trade Local campaign. Small businesses have a key role to play in delivering the economic growth and prosperity that we need.”