NEWS
UPPAL STEPS UP TO ROLE AS SMALL BUSINESS COMMISSIONER
Paul Uppal will champion the role small businesses play in the UK economy after being appointed to the newly-established post of Small Business Commissioner by Business Secretary Greg Clark
AS COMMISSIONER, Paul Uppal will lead an independent office tasked with empowering small businesses and the role will be crucial in helping small businesses resolve disputes with larger businesses and will help drive a culture change in payment practices. “Running your own business can be a
very lonely experience and my priority will be ensuring that small firms feel supported as well as helping to create an overall impression that business isn’t necessarily cut-throat,” said Uppal after his appointment. “In fact, successful businesses are built on integrity, entrepreneurial spirit and trusting relationships and I want to highlight that Britain can be the best place in the world for new entrepreneurs to establish and grow their own businesses.” Uppal and his team will provide general
advice and information to small businesses on matters such as resolving disputes,
A Chessington zookeeper takes a selfie with a giraffe using a six-metre-long selfie stick
including signposting small businesses to existing support and dispute resolution services, which will be delivered through the commissioner’s website. His priorities will reflect his 20-year experience as a small business owner in the real estate sector, where he saw how even sound businesses could struggle when faced with a culture of late payment by customers. Business Secretary Greg Clark said:
“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, providing jobs and opportunities across the country. I am delighted to announce Paul Uppal as the first Small Business Commissioner. His extensive experience as a small business owner makes him perfectly suited to champion the interests of small business and bring about a change in culture that will create a level playing field for everyone.
“Supporting Britain’s 5.5 million
small businesses is at the heart of this government’s Industrial Strategy, and his ambition to tackle unfair payment practices will help support our goal to create an economy that works for all. I wish Paul luck in his new role, and I look forward to working with him.” Paul Christensen, CEO of Previse,
welcomed Uppal’s appointment. “He has a crucial task ahead of him. This country's economy is built on the hard work and innovation of small businesses, yet late payments are strangling economic growth and causing 50,000 business deaths a year by blocking up the payments chain. As the UK prepares to leave the EU, it will be even more vital that we eliminate as much friction in the supply chain as possible, ending late payments is a key part of that.”
ENTREPRENEURIAL ZOOKEEPER KEEPING GIRAFFES IN THE PICTURE
A ZOOKEEPER has created the first ever selfie stick for taking pictures with giraffes. Dubbed the Self- ari Stick, it will allow guests at Chessington World of Adventures in Surrey to snap the perfect shot, meaning it’s goodbye to height difficulties and poor angles and hello to memorable pictures with Moja standing at 16.5ft, Tonda and Kito both at 15ft, Napoli at 13.5 ft and Oscar at 11.5ft. Becky Apperley- Gawn, the zookeeper who created the device, said: “When guests meet our giraffes it’s incredible to watch – adults and children alike stand in awe. With only around 1,500 Rothschild’s (Nubian) Giraffes left in the wild, raising awareness for this now vulnerable mammal is massively important to us. With the introduction of the Self-ari Stick, we’re able to ensure guests have the perfect picture.”
10 SME
www.smeweb.com
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