Federation of Small Businesses

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is a UK business organisation representing small and medium-sized businesses. It was formed in 1974 as the National Federation of Self Employed (NFSE).[1] The current name for the organisation was adopted in 1991. It is registered with Companies House as The National Federation of Self Employed & Small Businesses Limited (company number 1263540).[2]

Federation of Small Businesses
National Federation of Self Employed & Small Businesses
AbbreviationFSB
Formation1974
Registration no.1263540
Legal statusNot for profit company
PurposeMembership body for small businesses and the self-employed
HeadquartersBlackpool, England
Location
Membership (2016)
>160,000
National Chair
Martin McTague
National Vice Chair Internal Affairs, FSB
Melanie Ulyatt
National Vice Chair Policy and Advocacy, FSB
Tina McKenzie
Chief Executive Officer
Julie Lilley
Alison North, Caroline Platt, Ian O'Donnell, Julie Lilley, Laurence Milsted, Nicola Sawford, Sharon Jandu, Stephen Askew.
Main organ
Board of Directors
SubsidiariesFSB Publications Limited, FSB Recruitment Limited, FSB Sales Limited, F.S.B. (Member Services) Limited, FSB Gold Club Limited, Keep Trade Local Ltd, Real Life Entrepreneurs Limited
Revenue (2016)
£25.6M
Staff (2016)
211
WebsiteOfficial website
Formerly called
National Federation of Self Employed

FSB is a member-led, not-for-profit and non-party political organisation.[3] FSB is a lobbying organisation representing small firms and the self-employed to UK, national, local and devolved government.[4] FSB offers its members a range of benefits, such as a 24-hour legal advice line and free business banking.[5]

Structure

The current National Chair of FSB is Martin McTague who was appointed on 8 March 2022 [6]

Prior to 2018 FSB had 184 branches around the UK and these were grouped into 33 regions.[7] Each branch and region has its own committee. In addition, there was a national committee which included representatives from each regional committee.[8]

In January 2018, FSB underwent a modernisation programme and the Board of Directors altered the organisation's volunteer structure by switching from elected Branches and Regions to a new election and selection process. In 2021, the Board of Directors appointed a new scrutiny body, made up of members appointed through an independent selection process, to act as a critical friend to the Board of Directors in assessing its performance and effectiveness. The Scrutiny Body’s overall purpose is to obtain assurance on behalf of FSB members that the strategic direction of the organisation is in line with the principles and objectives set out in its Constitution.

Lobbying

FSB's past political lobbying activities have led in its own opinion to a number of benefits for small businesses,[9] such as:

  • The introduction of, and periodic increases to, an Employment Allowance for small business employers
  • Fast introduction and expansion of a range of government support for small businesses and the self-employed affected by the COVID-19 pandemic; including the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (‘furlough’); the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS); business rates relief and various grants.
  • The reduction or removal of Corporation Tax for small limited companies
  • Creation of small business rates relief
  • Preventing the wholesale expansion of VAT to smaller businesses under the current threshold

Membership

FSB is a member-led federation. Membership criteria are as follows:[10]

  • Self-Employed or the owner, partner, or director of a business (or businesses) Based in the United Kingdom
  • Fewer than 250 employees.
  • Agree to the Members' Code of Conduct[11]
  • Not barred from membership

The membership was 185,000 in 2006 and >160,000 in 2016.[12][13] The membership is 200,000+ if Joint, Associate, Retired, Connect and Business Creation (pre-start-up) affiliates are included.[14][15]

Small Business Index

The FSB Small Business Index measures confidence among small firms.[16] The FSB SBI has been quoted by the Bank of England,[17] the BBC,[18] Economia,[19] and EADT.[20]

The current logo for the organisation was adopted in November 2015. The costs of this re-branding was £0.3M[21] and took well over a year to complete including a complete re-branding of the FSB Website.

See also

References
  1. "History". Federation of Small Businesses. Archived from the original on 4 July 2017. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
  2. FSB Annual Report 1991. FSB. 1991.
  3. "About the FSB". Federation of Small Businesses.
  4. "FSB Lobbying". Federation of Small Businesses.
  5. "FSB Member Benefits". Federation of Small Businesses.
  6. "Business costs and supply chain practices are priorities, says Martin McTague as he is appointed new FSB National Chair". Federation of Small Businesses. 7 March 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  7. "FSB Annual Report 2016" (PDF). Federation of Small Businesses.
  8. FSB MSP. FSB. 2016.
  9. "FSB Policy Issues". Federation of Small Businesses.
  10. "Membership Requirements". Federation of Small Businesses.
  11. "FSB Members Code of Conduct". Federation of Small Businesses.
  12. FSB Annual Report 2006. FSB. 2006.
  13. "FSB Annual Report 2016" (PDF). Federation of Small Businesses.
  14. "FSB Website". Federation of Small Businesses.
  15. "FSB Entrepreneurship Manifesto" (PDF). Federation of Small Businesses.
  16. "FSB SBI". Federation of Small Businesses.
  17. "Bank of England and the FSB SBI" (PDF). Bank of England.
  18. "BBC and the FSB SBI". BBC.
  19. "economia and the FSB SBI". economia.
  20. "EADT and the FSB SBI". EADT.
  21. "FSB Annual Report 2016" (PDF). Federation of Small Businesses.
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