The latest exclusive article for SMEWeb from Small Business Commissioner Emma Jones CBE. Emma runs the independent public body that tackles late payments and unfair payment practices.
One of the best ways to ensure SME policy and programmes meet the needs of SMEs is to deepen understanding between civil servants who are formulating policy and programmes and the founders for whom they are intended.
That’s exactly the purpose of SME Safaris that are operating monthly and making connections across the UK and in a wide range of sectors.
Following a test Safari in London in late 2025, visits have taken place so far this year in Warrenpoint, Northern Ireland, and Leicester, with upcoming visits to Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle scheduled. The plan is to meet businesses that operate in city and rural environments, those that service customers through bricks and mortar and those who have selected online as their venture of choice.
So far we have met businesses selling everything from creative film production to fashion textile manufacturers, book shop owners, and scented candle makers. Discussions on the Safaris have covered topics ranging from access to finance through to perfecting procurement. All the founders met have their share of challenges but what has stood out is that they remain optimistic about growth.
Other key trends that have been highlighted are the growing importance of trade bodies and the constant need to ensure that busy and occupied bosses are getting access to information on relevant support programmes. Many founders talk of how peer groups are their source of not just practical information but also the all important inspiration that provides the resilience to keep going.
Naturally on the visits I am after updates on payment and so far I have heard that businesses are on top of getting paid and thankfully know where to go if they aren’t.
Civil servants joining the visits come mainly from the Department for Business and Trade, with teams dealing with topics including provision of growth support, High Street strategy, and exports. Other departments are taking an interest in attending so they can ask questions of the founders specifically relating to their own area of interest such as skills requirements and product legislation/regulations.
We are now working on locations for the second half of the year with plans to visit a thriving high street, the UK’s first Tech Town, and an entrepreneurial hotspot in Scotland.
If you would like your area to be considered, please make contact, and sign up for my weekly newsletter where I will write about each Safari and the key takeaways. The more understanding, the better the policy and programmes created.
Other content by Emma Jones:
- Chasing late payments? How the Office of the Small Business Commissioner can help
- Focus on the Fair Payment Code and celebrating firms that pay on time
- Top tips to contract well and get paid on time
- Three things to expect from the Office of the Small Business Commissioner in 2026