Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a work experience scheme for relevant Ministers to shadow small business owners.

This government is committed to hardwiring the voice of SME owners and entrepreneurs into government policy.

For example, as part of co-designing our Plan for Small Business launched in July 2025, DBT Ministers engaged with hundreds of individual SMEs across all sectors and regions, including through roundtables across key areas, such as High Streets, Markets and Finance, as well as specific policy events such as at Wilton Park.

Ministers and their teams continue to work closely with individual SMEs and the trade associations that represent them on an ongoing basis.