As part of the Government’s plan to deliver a brighter economic future for Britain, we’re reaffirming our commitment to small businesses by setting up a new Small Business Council and the 'Help to Grow Plan'. The former, chaired by the Minister for Small Business, will bring together industry leaders from across the SME community. It will provide a powerful voice for small businesses within Government, and will oversee access to finance, skills and support, as well as removing barriers and red tape. Alongside this, the new 'Help to Grow' hub will provide expert advice on how to set up and grow a business, and brings together all the Government support on offer in one place. These announcements come alongside a broad background of support for SMEs, including our £4.3 billion Business Rates package, which will help high streets across England in the next five years, as well as the British Business Bank’s Start Up Loan Scheme, providing over £1 billion in loans. I’m really proud of all the work we’re doing as a Government to tackle the issues affecting SMEs on a daily basis, and I’m confident these measures will have a really positive impact for small businesses in Corby & East Northamptonshire and beyond. I'd certainly encourage businesses and entrepreneurs locally to explore these opportunities!