MP hosts summit with small businesses

Tamworth MP Sarah Edwards hosted a small business summit ‘No Community Left Behind’ with mayor of the West Midlands Richard Parker.

The event which brought together dozens of local small and medium enterprises to a roundtable event held at the Assembly Rooms, will be used to feed their issues, ideas and goals into government and Sarah’s work on the Business and Trade Select Committee.

Among the attendees were Lichfield and Tamworth Chamber president Fiona Rouse and Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce’s director of external affairs Raj Kandola.

She said: “This was a fantastic and important event, I am keen to ensure that we are feeding business voices into Government to create the right environment for businesses to thrive and promote the growth agenda.

“We have so many great SMEs here in Tamworth and the Villages and it’s great to hear from them and share their aspirations with the West Midlands mayor and the Government.

“I am keen to showcase Tamworth and the potential that already exists to which we can build upon to support local growth.”

Richard Parker said: “Fantastic morning in Tamworth with Sarah Edwards MP, celebrating the power of small businesses.

“SMEs are buzzing with energy and innovation whilst creating jobs and driving growth and together we’ll keep backing their brilliance.”

Businesses where asked to outline their aspirations as business entrepreneurs and what would help them (and their key stakeholders - employees and local suppliers) to feel more in control of their future, what they can do to offer more and better paid jobs to local people and how government can help them to do that, and whether there are any barriers to growing and/or sustaining their business which they would like national, regional or local government to address.

Pictured: Fiona Rouse, Sarah Edwards, Richard Parker and Raj Kandola