James Cleverly calls for more support for self-employed to become employers and hire their first member of staff.
James Cleverly (Braintree) (Con)
3. What steps he is taking to support the self-employed. [908477]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Margot James)
The gov.uk website and the business support helpline provide information on starting and running a business. Growth hubs also provide access to local and national support. Some 4.8 million people are currently self-employed.
James Cleverly
When I started a business, I found that one of the most intimidating elements was employing my first member of staff. What more can the Government do to encourage and support the self-employed to grow their company and become employers in their own right?
Margot James
We will support entrepreneurs across the UK to ensure that they can access finance and wider support so that they can grow. British Business Bank programmes are already supporting £3.2 billion of finance to more than 51,000 smaller businesses, including start-up loans to 39 entrepreneurs in my hon. Friend’s Braintree constituency.