Update: Now includes Scarborough

I normally try to keep non AB stuff away from our website but these are unprecedented times and all rules are out of the window. I am going to tell you about how you can get free FSB membership but first I want to tell you about the last couple of weeks, I’ve been in isolation for three weeks and I need to talk to somebody so sorry, that’s you.

Some of you may know that I volunteer for the Federation of Small Businesses as policy representative for Yorkshire, The North East and Humber. What is policy? Well, all the decisions that the Government has made in the last few weeks that impact on your life; that’s policy.

I’m not here to sell the FSB (you get lots of great member benefits) but I do want to talk about the stuff we do that often goes on behind closed doors. At its core, the FSB is a lobbying group and we’re one of the few business organisations that have been consulting directly with the chancellor. We’ve made some massive gains, I know it doesn’t feel like it for some people but please believe me when I say the self-employed would not have got anything like the £3bn a month support the Government is now offering.

We’ve been quoted in lots of press too:

• UK minister backs state bailout for owner-directors

• UK banks banned from requesting personal guarantees for loans

• FSB highlights gaps in coronavirus income support measure for self-employed

• UK set to launch loans scheme for small businesses

• Coronavirus: 'Urgent' need for better Wales-UK communication

• Coronavirus: 'We have gone from £140,000 a year to nothing'

We haven’t stopped either, we will keep listening to our members and non-members and keep pushing. We're still gathering with evidence on the impact of coronavirus so if you want to get in touch we can use your cases direct with government.

So, what about the free FSB membership? The local councils are starting to understand how valuable membership and Ryedale are offering free membership (for a limited time) as are York and Scarborough. Hambleton continue to offer subsidised membership and we expect more Local Authorities to follow. If you want more information please get in touch with me at [email protected].

See you on the other side,

Rich