Government should support business or jeopardise hope of economic recovery, says Access

Colchester, UK - 14 June 2010 - Access, the mid-market consulting, software and solutions provider, is calling for the Government to support business in the Budget on Tuesday 22^nd June or face jeopardising any hope of economic recovery.

With £6.2bn of cuts on the agenda, a balance needs to be struck to ensure that businesses can flourish and help the economy get back on track. Paul Druckman, chairman for Access, said, "There is no need to handhold business, they simply require a clear, simplified business framework that supports the competitive standing of British companies.

"We want to see a taxation system that encourages innovation, entrepreneurship and investment to ensure businesses continue to operate in the UK. We need a business-led recovery supported by Government rather than a state-driven return to prosperity.

Taxation is a key area outlined in The IoD's Business Manifesto 2010 that calls for 'steady reductions in the main and small companies corporation tax rates, down to 15 per cent'. "This is something that we would support as it would provide the right environment to encourage investment in the UK - although naturally this is a journey over a period a time rather than a one hit change. What business needs is certainty and consistency rather than sudden change."

"Like many business leaders, we also want to see the one per cent increase in national insurance reversed. The impact of this tax on jobs shouldn't be underestimated; it's something we can't afford in such a fragile economy. We already have the potential of VAT rate rises; as a business software provider we remember only too clearly the pragmatic problems businesses faced when VAT was reduced to 15% for 12 months."

Access believes the burden of regulation on organisations is also a barrier to progress. As an example, to quote from the IoD's Manifesto, 'there should be an immediate halt to new employment laws, which will only make it more expensive for companies to hire people...These laws have created numerous costly new procedures for businesses to follow'.

"SME's are most unlikely to have a HR department; certainly this applies to those at the smaller end," said Paul. "Our experience is that there are just too many elements of employment law to contend with, which discourages job creation as well as being an onus on business. Our business software systems can help manage this for companies, but just how many of these laws are really necessary?"

Paul concluded, "As a mid-market organisation ourselves, serving businesses of equivalent size, we're only too well aware of the issues they face by the uncertainty of both the business and economic environment. Mid-market enterprises employ nearly 30 per cent of the British workforce and generate 20 per cent of all corporate profits yet they've been nearly invisible, having little profile in the market and with government policy makers. We're all too fully aware that drastic measures have to be taken by the new coalition; let us hope that careful consideration is given to the mid-market and that business is encouraged, not choked, by measures in the new Budget."

Read more from Paul on the forthcoming emergency budget on the Access blog. For more information on Access visit www.theaccessgroup.com or follow at keep up-to-date by following Access on twitter, http://www.twitter.com/theaccessgroup.

 

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About Access

• Access is a consulting, software and solutions provider, serving the mid-market
• The consulting services are backed by more than 65 accredited consultants, providing business software expertise. They operate nationally out of 10 offices in the UK and Ireland
• The software portfolio provides solutions to meet the needs of the whole organisation, helping to reduce complexity and increase efficiencies at every level. In addition to accounting and finance, Access also offers manufacturing software, professional services automation, and accounting for carbon emissions reporting. Other software solutions include distribution and warehousing, HR and payroll, document management, service and contract management and CRM and sales automation

Accreditations and memberships:

• Microsoft Gold Certified Partner
• Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)
• Business Application Software Developers Association (BASDA)
• HM Revenue & Customs: Payroll Standards Scheme  

Awards 2008 and 2009:

• Green IT Awards 2010 for 'Environmental Accounting Software of the Year'
• SIFT Media Software Satisfaction Awards 2009 for 'Green Software Provider of the Year'
• Manufacturer of the Year Awards 2009 for 'IT in Manufacturing', won by customer Renthal for its use of the Access Supply Chain solution
• Construction Computing Awards 2009, 'Construction Accounting Software of the Year' and shortlisted for 'Environmental Product of the Year'
• Accountancy Age Award 2008 and 2009 for the best 'Mid-tier Software Package'
• SIFT Media Software Satisfaction Award 2008, for the second year running, in the category of best 'Mid-Range Software'

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