Tuning in to Sajid Javid’s inaugural speech this week, the Freelancer and Contractor Services Association (FCSA) has welcomed the new Business Secretary’s commitment to supporting the UK’s small businesses as part of his Enterprise bill.
As the UK’s freelance and contractor workforce continues to grow and add value to UK plc, the FCSA was pleased to hear Mr Javid acknowledge that the economic recovery and entrepreneurial boom is not down to Government but individuals alone – “people with the guts and gumption to risk everything on starting something from scratch.”
The FCSA also welcomed the planned action on late payment which can have a significant impact on contractors and the whole supply chain.
However, Julia Kermode, Chief Executive of the FCSA is firing a cautionary message and appealing to the new Business Secretary to reduce the burden of regulation on freelancers and contractors. She said: “Whilst we have heard lots of positive messages delivered by Sajid Javid I would like to urge him to remember the 1.7+ million freelancers and contractors who prop up the UK economy – they are the unsung heroes of enterprise and are weighed down by financial and tax regulation that is far too complex. If the Government really does believe in ‘the values of hard work and enterprise…..’ and is committed to reducing regulatory burden then it should look at the burdensome red tape that hinders this particular group of workers.
“The FCSA will be monitoring developments closely and looks forward to consulting with the Government and its policy advisers over the coming months on appropriate issues that will affect freelancers, contractors and those professional service companies who work with them.”
