IoD welcomes Government measures to reduce red tape and business costs
Responding to the Government’s announcement of new measures to cut red tape and reduce costs for businesses, Ilaria Lavalle Miller, IoD Chief Governance & Policy Officer, said:
“We support the Government’s objective of reducing unnecessary burdens and disproportionate costs for businesses, particularly smaller firms. Duplicative reporting requirements should be avoided, and regulatory frameworks should be as simple and proportionate as possible. Effective reform requires robust impact assessments, meaningful consultation, and coherent delivery across government departments, agencies and regulators. This is essential to avoid piecemeal changes that risk creating further complexity and inconsistency.
“Businesses should be faced with reporting and governance frameworks that support growth, facilitate access to finance and investment, and provide confidence to creditors and potential investors. Regulatory reform should also align with the UK’s wider trade objectives and relationships with key international partners.
“Through its extensive director training and professional development programmes, the IoD works with business leaders to implement proportionate governance frameworks that strengthen resilience, improve risk management and support long-term performance. Good governance remains a vital enabler of growth, investment and trust.”
Liz Barclay, IoD Special Advisor for Small Business and Entrepreneurship and former Small Business Commissioner, said:
“The Government’s commitment to making life easier for small and micro businesses is welcome. These firms are not only the backbone of the British economy, but also a vital source of innovation, jobs and opportunities for young people, the heart of our high streets, and an important driver of community cohesion.
“Disproportionate regulation and unnecessary administrative burdens take business owners away from what they do best: building and growing successful businesses. Too often, they create additional pressure, increase the risk of errors, and add to the stresses already faced by founders and owner-managers.
“Measures such as the ‘Tell Us Once’ initiative, alongside improved support and guidance, will be welcomed by many small businesses. However, as the Government takes forward these reforms, it should also consider the cumulative impact of introducing multiple changes at the same time on already stretched founders and owners.”
