BackinBusiness

People are shutting down their business and leaving the self-employed sector in their hundreds of thousands. On the other hand people are planning to use redundancy payments to start up new ventures. Is this the time to start-up and if so how do you give yourself the best chance of success? Join the discussion and for those of you of a nervous disposition - there is an 'F' word in this podcast.

Family businesses and the food and drink sector are hugely important to the UK economy. Small businesses in those sectors are going to be more beneficial to the economy in the long run than big business, but they need a higher profile; they need certainty, stability and no surprises, and the world needs to be saved from mediocre gin. Just some of the salient points to come from this week's discussion on the BackinBusiness podcast when Russ Haworth, Family Business Consultant in Taunton, Somerset, who runs the Family Business Partnership, and Tom Warner, co-founder of Warner’s Distillery, making Farm Grown Gin in Harrington Northampton, talk to John Stevenson MP for Carlisle. He is Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Family Businesses and also the Chair of the APPG on Food and Drink.

What do people with protected characteristics like disability need to help them realise their business ambitions and potential?Chris Pond, Chair of BackinBusiness, Chair of the Financial Inclusion Commission, Trustee of Ambitious About Autism and former MP turns his attention to Inclusive Entrepreneurship.He talks to disabled business man Mark Esho and to Dr Lisa Cameron MP who is Chair of the newly established All Party Parliamentary Group on Inclusive Entrepreneurship.

Mickey Clark hears from pub landlady Jenny Baish and Chair of the APPG on Pubs, Toby Perkins MP

Xero, the small business accounting software company, has 2 million small business customers. That gives the firm a 2 million strong focus group from which to gather opinions, comments and insight. Which means Gary Turner has well informed views on the government's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, what small businesses need to survive and thrive, and what the future looks like for the vital small business sector. He talks to BackinBusiness CEO Liz Barclay.

Supply chains might sound boring but without ones that work the things we need aren't on the shelves, in our workplaces or available to the NHS. We need the trucks, planes, and boats to keep operating and the manufacturers to keep making. How solid are our current chains and links?

One of the business sectors worst hit due to Covid-19 is the events sector. Whether it's sport, music, weddings or the children's party the virus has played havoc. The discussion this week on the impact and the bounce back was recorded before the latest delays to events opening up. The threats are huge: lost revenue, lost skills, changing customer attitudes but we all love a good get together so there's still hope. Join Andy Taylor, Anthony Jordan and the BackinBusiness.org.uk team for the event of the week.

Three small business people discuss the issues they face operating in rural areas. Internet connectivity may be improving but there are problems with access to skills, grants and banking services. Isolation has always been a challenge and it has been worsened significantly by the virus with a pandemic of mental health problems predicted. But there are opportunities too. Join the team and their guests for another insightful discussion with people in the frontline of small business.

Young people around the UK discuss their businesses and freelance work, how it's being affected by this recession, how they plan to survive and thrive, and the opportunities they hope to create. For many this is the second time they've been caught up by recession. School leavers in 2008 are being pummelled again 12 years later. We need to help them thrive rather than become the lost generation.

As outdoor theatres get ready for curtain-up, pubs, restaurants and hairdressers get used to the new norm. Join us for this week's discussion on the reopening of small businesses around the UK.