A poll reveals that 2000 people think the next government should clamp down on businesses behaving unethically towards smaller ones.
Phil Orford, chief executive of the Forum of Private Business, says the UK is facing a crisis of trust.
“The view of the British public is clear. We are facing a crisis of trust in big business and the UK wants the next government to respond accordingly, safeguarding the UK’s small business community”.
"Ethical deficit" could break #UK #SMEs, warns FPB study http://t.co/x4HhpPltC5 @The_FPB @PhilOrford #business pic.twitter.com/oEh583h3yX
— Real Business (@Real_Business) February 9, 2015
“From tax avoidance and high street domination to late payment and supply chain abuse – every week our members tell us that some of the biggest names in British business are threatening their livelihoods”.
“It’s time for Britain’s honest workers who play by the rules to have their say and it’s time for their interests to be heard”.
Seventy four percent of adults agree that the majority of big businesses have no concern for small business owners in the UK. And 81 percent think small businesses need a greater voice in parliament.
The ComRes poll suggests that people living in Britain have identified an ethical deficit at the heart of big British business and is urging the next government in charge to take action in five ways: promote responsible business in the UK, treat suppliers as they wish to be treated, build long-term relationships with local enterprises, operate more openly and ethically and make more partnerships with small and medium enterprises.
@The_FPB aim to forge partnership with #UKCorporates committed to reforming relationship between big & small business #businessethicspledge
— LDF (@LDFinance) February 9, 2015
Earlier this year, David Cameron claimed the Conservatives are the party of small businesses. “We’re the party of the roofers and the retailers; the builders and the businesswomen. Meanwhile Ed Miliband has pledged that a Labour government would cut business rates, a tax that mainly affects small businesses.
The role of ethics in small businesses must take centre stage http://t.co/gYPFOLhZQ5 pic.twitter.com/0NeFj96KGr
— AAT (@YourAAT) January 19, 2015
But Phil Orford, chief executive of the Forum of Private Business, says trust must be at the heart of government policy.
“The UK’s political parties should be judged at the election on their commitment to put business ethics at the top of the political agenda.
“Failure to do so could break small business, the backbone of the British economy”.
