Members of the House of Commons Business and Trade Committee toured Dudley town centre on June 17 as part of their inquiry into how to support small- and medium-sized business.
The group, hosted by Dudley’s Labour MP Sonia Kumar, met at the Black Country Living Museum to discuss ideas to boost business in the town centre.
Sonia Kumar MP said: “Hearing directly from Dudley’s business community is crucial to shaping effective policy.
“We’re committed to ensuring local businesses not only survive but thrive, especially in places like Dudley, where local entrepreneurship is central to regeneration.
“Revitalising empty buildings and underused spaces is key to breathing new life into our town centres.
“Improving parking accessibility can make a real difference for both businesses and customers.
“We also heard how access to finance remains a major barrier for many small businesses, something the committee is looking at very closely.”
Dudley Council leader Councillor Patrick Harley (Conservative), was on hand to share his views on what business in Dudley needs.
Speaking after the event, Councillor Harley told the Local Democracy Reporting Service he thought a general election would help Dudley business but conceded that was some years away.
In terms of what the current Labour government could do, he said: “They have to have a viable energy policy that reduces cost: although the environment is important, there is a lot of added cost to meet net zero.
“Also they cut support to business rates, particularly hospitality, from 70 per cent to 40 per cent, that trebled business rates for small businesses.
“Thirdly they need to review the increase in national insurance.
“As a business owner we have reduced our staffing hours because the national insurance contribution has increased.”
Committee chairperson, Liam Byrne MP, said: “A huge thanks to committee member Sonia Kumar for her brilliant work helping to bring together today’s roundtable.
“Small firms are doing extraordinary things, but too often, they face a system that puts obstacles in their way, not wind in their sails.
“This inquiry is about listening directly to business leaders, cutting through the noise, and setting out the action Britain needs to unlock the full potential of our entrepreneurs.”
