Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of existing business support programmes in reaching SMEs in deprived communities.

This government is committed to ensuring that small and medium sized businesses are able to access the support they need to start, grow and thrive in every community. Through the Small Business Plan, we are taking a holistic approach to strengthening the business support landscape, including reaching into underserved and deprived areas.

Business support available includes the Business Growth Service, which works closely with the West Yorkshire Business Growth Hub. Working in tandem they provide free, tailored advice to all SMEs in the region, including amongst deprived communities.

The Maple Review is an independent, government-backed initiative launched in Summer 2025 to identify and dismantle economic barriers to entrepreneurship in the UK. The Review’s final report and recommendations are anticipated for May/June 2026.