FSB unveils five-point jobs plan

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has published a five-point plan that it claims would help create and retain jobs in the current economic downturn.

Ahead of the government's new year jobs summit, the FSB has highlighted part-time work, apprenticeships, reducing red tape, cutting payroll taxes and giving more small firms the chance to bid for public sector contracts as the answer to the growing challenge of unemployment.

The organisation claims the government could take 191,000 out of unemployment and into self-employment by following the example of the enterprise allowance scheme in the 1980s, while reducing the regulatory burden would create 160,000 jobs and safeguard a further 73,000.

"We are calling for the government to help small businesses to continue to invest in recruitment and training so they can grow stronger and more competitive, creating quality jobs and doing their bit to pull the UK out of the recession as quickly as possible," said John Wright, FSB national chairman.