Small business commissioner visits district for first time

This was the Commissioner’s first engagement session with small businesses in his new role.

Harborough District Council invited the Small Business Commissioner Paul Uppal to the free event at Harborough Innovation Centre on Monday 26 March 2018.

Mr Uppal (pictured with the Harborough District Council Leader Neil Bannister) met with local business representatives and councillors from across the Harborough district to discuss how the Government can help small businesses resolve late payment disputes between small and large businesses.

Research shows that a third of payments to small businesses are late. Around 20 per cent of small businesses have run into cash-flow problems due to late payments and if small businesses were paid on time it could boost the economy by an estimated £2.5 billion annually.

Leader of Harborough District Council Neil Bannister, who attended the event, said: “This was a very informative and well-attended event. It was a real coup for local business people to be able to quiz such a high profile Government representative.  I’d like to thank Mr Uppal for coming along and sharing his advice with the businesses present and engaging in such lively debate.”

Small Business Commissioner Paul Uppal said: “I‘d like to thank Harborough District Council for hosting a great event.  I found it a really interesting event meeting and listening to the concerns raised by small businesses. I was particularly impressed with the quality of the discussion and the enthusiasm from everyone who attended, and am determined that together we will tackle the UK’s late payment culture.”