Micro businesses offered 12 months of free support

Free membership places are still available for micro businesses in Cannock Chase who are looking to benefit from 12 months of free business support.

In March this year, Cannock Chase Council announced that micro businesses in the district could benefit from 12 months ' free business to help them recover from the effects of the pandemic.

Micro business with one to four workers in Cannock Chase can benefit from 12 months ' free business support with the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).

The Council is pooling resources with Staffordshire County Council and other borough and district councils to offer the free 12-month membership.

Membership will give free advice and guidance on issues such as legal and tax, employment legislation, health and safety, cyber protections and insurance.

Councillor Mike Sutherland (pictured), district development portfolio leader said “This free membership offer to micro businesses in the District is invaluable. The FSB are offering support and advice on a wide range of issues, which will help them to recover from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“I would encourage these business to take up this offer as the economy tries to recover from the pandemic. Our Economic Development Team are available to answer any questions that you might have. ”

Businesses must not be a current FSB member and the memberships will be awarded on a first-come-first-served basis for eligible applicants. Successful applicants will have all the benefits of full membership straight away.

Karen Woolley, development manager for FSB for Staffordshire and the West Midlands, said:

“FSB is proud to be partnering with Staffordshire County Council and Cannock Chase Council on this crucial initiative to get robust, on-the-ground and immediate business support to local small businesses to help them not only survive this crises, but to go on to revive and then thrive.

"Both Staffordshire County Council and Cannock Chase Council have always had a real passion for identifying businesses in need of support, and this initiative will be pivotal to ensuring this aim is met.

"FSB membership provides vital support including 24/7 legal advice and a legal hub containing a wealth of fact sheets and documents which are oven-ready for use, a funding platform, medical care helpline, free debt recovery and cyber protection to name but a few of the benefits which our members are relying on most at this difficult time.

"We look forward to supporting more businesses across Staffordshire to weather this crisis. ”

To apply for free membership, contact the Economic Development team at: [email protected]

For more information on the full suite of benefits offered to FSB members, visit: https://www.fsb.org.uk/join-us/membership.html