Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to help support the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises.

Small businesses are the beating heart of our communities. The Government will boost small business growth and productivity by delivering upon the commitments within Labour’s Plan for Small Business published prior to the election.

On 19th September 2024, we announced new measures to tackle the scourge of late payments and long payment terms. We are providing access to the support and finance needed to scale-up and to break into new markets. We are also transforming the apprenticeships levy into a new growth and skills levy, offering greater flexibility for learners and employers, including shorter duration apprenticeships in targeted sectors.