May 13th saw McClarrons attend the annual Hambleton Strategic Business Forum Conference at The Hawkhills in Easingwold. The topic of this year’s conference was how well government and businesses work together for mutual benefit. Local conservative MP Kevin Hollinrake opened the discussion from the point of view of local and central government whilst Richard Menage, Chairman of International Textiles and Plastics Ltd, spoke from the standpoint of a local business owner whose business has grown substantially.
After the presentations, a question and answer session brought to light the main concerns of the audience, which consisted of local businesses, schools, training organisations and local authority and council members. Kevin Hollinrake MP and Richard Menage were joined by Councillor Peter Wilkinson, Councillor Mark Robson, Debbie Keeble from Heck and HSBF Chairman Lindsay Ross to sit on the panel and address the concerns of the attendees.
The core concerns that were raised through the discussion included a need for better signposting for business owners, whether starting up or looking to expand, in terms of advice and regulations. The general consensus was that more needs to be done to help businesses succeed and grow and that there needs to be less ‘red tape’ and regulation but more advice and guidance on how businesses can move forward, and the grants and opportunities that are available to them. Kevin Hollinrake MP was keen to explore how government can help local businesses and asked the audience if they felt he and previous MP’s had done enough.
Steven Swift, Development Manager at McClarrons, noted the importance of attending these events: “It is very valuable to have been able to attend the conference this year and as a local business, learn from both local authority and other businesses. As McClarrons continues to grow and expand into new areas, it is important that we gain insight from others and ensure we play our part in making Hambleton a viable economic market for many years to come.”
Another key concern that was highlighted during the event was the lack of relationship between businesses and schools. It was apparent that there is a strong desire for businesses to be more involved with educational institutes, giving young people an opportunity to work through apprenticeships, or as full time employees as an alternative option to further education. Mr Swift continued, “We are always looking for talented young people who share our desire to provide outstanding customer service and who wish to develop their knowledge in the financial sector. Insurance isn’t necessarily viewed as the most appealing of topics but the industry plays a vital role in enabling businesses to trade with the security of insurance behind them. We would encourage schools and students to engage with us and learn more about what is an exciting and vibrant sector.”
Both parties agreed that more work is needed to build the working relationship between government and business, as well as there being a strong agreement on the areas of greatest concern. Richard Menage said of the event: “This was an excellent conference that stimulated positive debate on how business and government can work together to grow enterprise in Hambleton District.” We at McClarrons hope that these local discussions continue to improve the way that the government-business relationship works.
