Great Britain has always been known as ‘nation of shopkeepers’. The current economic depression has seen 2 million people out of work and there is the strong possibility that this will increase to 3 million in the not too distant future.

With over 30,000 businesses for sale in the UK it would be nice if the government took it upon themselves to help people who may wish to acquire a business.

BERR is the government department responsible for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform. The key word here is ENTERPRISE. It is just as enterprising to want to buy an established business as it is to start a new one. Surely the government can see that a person buying a small manufacturing business is ensuring the continuity of employment of a significant number of staff. After all, the vast majority of businesses are selling for good reasons, not because the business is failing. When a business owner wants to sell it could be due to a multitude of reasons. He may be retiring, he may be unwell, he may wish to pursue a different path, or he may have another business idea that takes priority. In all of these cases he may be able to pass on to a new owner a thriving business that will provide the new owner (and his family) with a source of income for many years to come.. The alternative is that he closes it, sells off the fixtures and fittings, property etc, but almost invariably makes people redundant.

We need to encourage more people to consider the opportunity to own their own business, rather relying on the efforts of others. People need to take ownership of their future.

The government could help. There is plenty of help for people who wish to start a business, but someone who has just bought a business needs help just as badly. Help with accounting practices, business plans, employment grants, business rate reductions or holidays, energy efficiency, marketing, law, distribution and e-commerce etc.. The government could, and should help in all these areas.

Perhaps if people felt that they were not alone in the venture, then maybe more would take the plunge and buy a business. This in turn would keep people in jobs. Allow redundant people the opportunity to be productive and restore some pride to the term Great Britain.

Web sites such as Myownbusiness.co.uk, Daltons.com and Businessesforsale.com all contain thousands of exciting business opportunities. In addition to these there are dozens of good business transfer agents who would be delighted to work with a proactive government department if it meant they had a better chance of selling the businesses on their books.

We need to encourage the government to do two things:

1. BERR should live up to its name and be a force for enterprise, working with agents to ensure good businesses remain open.
2. Create a financial and business support package for people buying a business. This should not just be about free hand outs, but more about genuine advice, mentoring and resources.

If you feel the same as me, send an email to BERR at http://www.berr.gov.uk or your local MP and let’s try to get some of Britain back to work.

This was a guest post by Ceri Edwards, the head of business development for RTA (Business Consultants) Ltd.

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