ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) warmly welcomes Emma Jones CBE as the new Small Business Commissioner (OSBC).
ACCA has been a constant and vocal supporter of the OSBC ever since it was established by the Enterprise Act 2016 to tackle late payment and unfavourable payment practices in the private sector.
Emma has a tough job in dealing with ongoing and systemic late payment practices. ACCA members running businesses and advising firms know that poor payment practices continue to have a detrimental – and sometimes fatal – impact on the small and growing business sector.
Yet this is a crucial sector which needs to thrive if the government is going to meet its aims of securing growth in the economy with strong employment. And this won’t happen if businesses face a daily struggle to get paid.
The first task for Emma will be the expected consultation on the prompt payment code and ensuring that small businesses benefit from the government’s upcoming small business strategy.
Glenn Collins, head of technical and strategic engagement, said: “We want to offer congratulations to Emma on her appointment. It is no easy task but as founder of Enterprise Nation Emma has a track record and experience that means she has an excellent chance of making a significant difference to hundreds of thousands of small businesses up and down the country.
“Both the strategy and the consultation continue the work of her predecessor, Liz Barclay, and ACCA would like to pay tribute to the impact that she has had in the role over the years.”
Lloyd Powell, head of ACCA Cymru/Wales, added: “We’ve always been strong supporters of the OSBC and in consultation with our members will continue to work constructively with the OSBC, in particular we look forward to seeing the strategy and the consultation.”
ACCA will continue to hold the government to account on its promise to ‘crackdown’ on late payments. Appointing Emma Jones is a significant step in the right direction, but she needs the support of ministers and government departments to see progress.
Speaking of her appointment, new Small Business Commissioner Emma Jones CBE said:
“Having done it myself, I know the commitment it takes to start and grow a successful business. Founders tell me they are time poor and spending too many precious hours on non-productive work like chasing debt. This is limiting their capacity to focus on growth and we want to change that.
“Through the Office of the Small Business Commissioner, we will make life easier for small business owners by leveraging technology to speed up payments and access to support.
“This work will be delivered in partnership with government and industry with a shared desire to enable founders to focus on what they do best and retain the UK’s status as a great place to start and grow a business.”
The Small Business Commissioner plays a vital role in supporting the UK’s 5.5 million small businesses by working to ensure they are treated fairly by larger companies and can access the support they need to thrive. The office also provides practical advice and resources to help small businesses resolve payment disputes and navigate commercial challenges.
