Montgomeryshire Assembly Member, Russell George, said that the Welsh Government must recognise the potential of small and medium sized businesses to grow the Welsh economy.
During a Welsh Conservative debate on entrepreneurship, Mr George also said that mentoring projects in schools were important to encourage the future business pioneers of the future.
Commenting during the debate Mr George said:
“I do not believe the Welsh Government fully recognises the potential of small and medium sized businesses to grow the Welsh economy. They are the vital life-blood to rural economies in particular and their importance has been largely ignored for too long.
“After all, the Federation of Small Business in Wales has said that if every small or medium sized enterprise took on one extra employee, we could wipe out unemployment; this is an amazing statistic.
“Creating the right environment where business can flourish is a significant area where the Government needs to work harder. The Government does need to create a comprehensive Entrepreneurship Action Plan, to ensure we create and nurture more start-up businesses.
“Also the issue of business rates is a constant barrier that business men and women raise with me on a regular basis. Many business just can’t survive on the current rates.
“Welsh Conservatives proposed a series of costed measures in our last manifesto to stimulate economic growth, including abolishing business rates for small businesses to help them expand and create new jobs.
“I do hope the Minister will look at this policy again and act on the concerns raised by the business sector.”
