For years I have been singing in the wind about government grant systems and the smaller end of the SME group, the little acorns as I call them, but little acorns grow into oak trees.
Most grant funding gets mopped up by the larger companies or ones backed by big money already. People able to show a quick return within the governments term of power so they can crow about it. There are masses of smaller companies out there that with a bit of seed money, to allow them to afford to go to international exhibitions to develop their distribution networks, through this they would become more successful. More government investment in R&D, apprenticeships, on the job courses would also accelerate longer term growth.
This would provide more jobs, more activity in their supply chains, and a return for governments in tax take from both increased employment and corporate profit. However a term of more than one government cycle between elections needs to be considered to develop a longer term program of SME company development.
I work with start up’s they are small generally initially controlled by the owner and often financed in house. A number of companies I have worked with are now market leaders. Not all due to my activities, but due to hard work, diligence, listening to their clients and performing as well as dealing with any problems promptly. Over a few short years they can grow tenfold, quickly learn how to be independent and benefit society.
Few of them had any real help from grants so they fought their way through on their own, going through some tough times while growing, and this stalls their development.
If there was a better interlock between small business and government there could be a whole new forest of oak trees in the making, and new products able to be invented, developed, and on the market for everyone’s benefit.
David Barrow, GMBA United Kingdom
Tel: +44 7768744255
Email: david.barrow@gmba.blue
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