Conservative Controlled Councils Receive Shared Business Service Award

Conservative controlled Tamworth Borough Council and Lichfield District Council’s Economic Development Shared Service has been presented a top award by the Federation of Small Businesses.

The two Staffordshire local authorities are celebrating after winning the ‘Best All-Round Small Business Friendliness’ award for their Economic Development Shared Service at the Federation of Small Businesses’ (FSB) Staffordshire and West Midlands Region Awards on Friday 20 September 2013.

Tamworth Borough Council and Lichfield District Council’s Economic Development Shared Service coordinates the Business Networks Forum through the Business and Economic Partnership.

The Business Networks Forum brings businesses across the partnership areas together at regular meetings, giving them the opportunity to stay informed on issues, shape the economy through their involvement, share their views and help to influence local decisions.

Announcing the award last week, the FSB highlighted a number of reasons that the accolade went to the Economic Development Shared Service for the Business Networks Forum, including the significant improvement in communication between the public and private sector, helping to raise local business issues and stronger links between networks across the area.

The FSB also praised the service for its response to the closure of Business Link and its advisor support network, by putting in place a programme of support aimed at filling the gap.

Karen Woolley, Development Manager for the Federation of Small Businesses, said, “The fact that Tamworth Borough Council and Lichfield District Council won our Best All-Round Small Business Friendliness award demonstrates to us the depth of knowledge and understanding that both councils have of small business issues and the partnership between these two authorities works in perfect harmony for the greater good of our members and other small businesses across the area.”

Cllr Steve Claymore, Tamworth Borough Council’s Cabinet member for Economy, said, “I am delighted that the wonderful work of the Economic Development Shared Service has been recognised with this much-deserved award. It is an acknowledgement of the value of working together at a local level to support and sustain our economies.”

Cllr Ian Pritchard, Lichfield District Council’s Cabinet Member for Development Services, said, “We are all so proud to have won this prestigious award. It has never been more important to support local businesses and this award shows us that we are on the right path.”

The award is a big accolade for the two local authorities and a tribute to the ongoing work of the Economic Development Shared Service.