Candidates for all the competing political parties in Scotland are knocking on doors to get the support of voters in the elections on 6th May. BackinBusiness invited all the main parties to put up a candidate to speak about their plans for Small Business and Self-employment in Scotland. Four candidates took part. Hear what they had to say.

Exactly a year ago BackinBusiness launched its podcast to give small businesses a voice throughout the Covid pandemic. Little did we think then that we'd still be around a year later hearing from small business people about the trials and tribulations of keeping their heads above water yet planning ahead with optimism. We look back over the 12 months with Mark Hart Professor of entrepreneurship at Aston University, Richard Lambert, CEO of the National Hair and Beauty Federation and Keith McAvoy of the Seven Brothers Brewery in Salford (think 2 bars in Manchester City Centre and beer made from Coco Pops and Rice Krispies amongst other things).

Candidates for all the competing political parties in Wales are gearing up for the elections on 6th May. BackinBusiness invited all the main parties to put up a candidate to speak in the Welsh Small Business and Self-employment Hustings this week. Five candidates took part: Anthony Slaughter, Leader of the Wales Green Party; Sally Stephenson the Liberal Democrat Small Business spokesperson; Rhys Mills, Plaid Cymru’s candidate for Islwyn and the fourth candidate on the South Wales East regional list; Russell George, the Shadow Minister for Economy, Business and Infrastructure for the Welsh Conservatives; and Lee Waters, the Deputy Minister for the Economy and Transport. Each was given the same amount of time to answer questions from the session chair Liz Barclay or submitted in advance by Welsh business people.

This week Liz Barclay talks to Ben Everitt MP for Milton Keynes North about the importance of innovation for the small business in his constituency and for driving the UK's economic recovery.

What makes Leeds a great place to start and grow a business? There's an important role for local authorities as Eve Roodhouse Chief Officer Culture and Economy at Leeds City Council tells Liz Barclay.

The Lib Dem Peer Lord Shipley Chairs the new House of Lords Youth Unemployment Committee. He talks to Liz Barclay about the challenges of creating jobs for the large numbers of young people looking for work, the skills firms need from those young people, and the important role of small businesses willing to innovate and create employment vital to the UK's recovery.

In the last of the BackinBusiness round UK virtual tour the team is in Blackpool to explore the impact on and the future of tourism in the UK and its seaside towns. Guests Rachel McQueen, CEO Marketing Lancashire, Michael Trainor, Director of Art B&B, and Nicola Thorp, columnist, broadcaster and actress, join the team.

Lucy is chief executive of The Alchemists, which works with businesses to accelerate their development and success, and Tom Caulker owner of the World Headquarters nightclub (community and socially based nightclub, music venue, fashion shows, nights for people with learning disabilities) discuss the opportunities coming along and what it takes for businesses to be part of the new economy.

Following on from our BackinBusiness budget roundup on budget day and our podcast of 8th March in part 3 Professor Mark Hart discusses his take on what it means for small businesses with Liz, Simon and Declan.

Steve Rotheram is the Mayor of the Liverpool City Region and has big plans for the future. Innovation is the key, skills are central to his thinking and while the funding is crucial he believes there's a lot the region can do for itself with small businesses at the heart of the recovery. He discusses his plans with Liz Barclay and Declan Curry and local business bosses Philippa Glover of CNC Robotics and Aston Fuller of Glass Futures.