Barking and Dagenham Council has joined forces with the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) as a Local Leadership Partner to elevate its support for local businesses.

Through the collaboration, the council is embracing FSB’s five key pledges, designed to further the relationship between the council and local businesses.

By becoming an FSB Local Leadership Partner, the council promises to continue its development of policies that support small businesses, maintain a focus on small businesses alongside the needs of residents as they create jobs and are at the heart of communities. The council has appointed Councillor Sade Bright to be its Small Business Champion.

Cllr Sade Bright, Cabinet Member for Employment, Skills and Aspiration, said: “The council is focused on empowering businesses and the self-employed, enhancing their skills, confidence and access to growth opportunities. We also encourage residents to shop locally and support our small businesses.

“Barking and Dagenham is proud to work with partners like the Federation of Small Businesses to support local businesses. We are delighted to sign this pledge as a sign of our commitment to continue to support local businesses to grow, providing them with the necessary support and opportunities to thrive.

“Stronger and resilient local businesses can help reduce poverty, make the borough a more vibrant place and contribute to our journey to Net Zero – all key priorities for the borough.”

David Clare, FSB North London Area Lead said: "We are delighted that Barking and Dagenham Council has come forward to sign the FSB pledge to become a Local Leadership Partner cementing the existing relationship between our two organisations and committing to the ongoing support of the small and micro businesses in the borough.

“FSB has produced its Local Leadership document for local and combined authorities across England because local leadership is important in providing small businesses with the confidence to grow, invest and deliver for the communities they serve as well as essential for the self-employed and new business start-ups.

"FSB London aims to work with all the London Borough Councils to further the cause of micro and small enterprises because when small businesses and the self-employed succeed, so do local communities and economies.

For information on the range of business support programmes in Barking and Dagenham, visit www.lbbd.gov.uk/business/business-support-and-advice