Keir Starmer has resigned as prime minister. We asked small business owners to tell what they want to see for entrepreneurs and enterprise from the new prime minister. Read what they had to say below.
“My biggest hope for a new prime minister is simply that small businesses are listened to. We are often described as the backbone of the economy, but many of us feel increasingly overlooked. A reduction in VAT would make a significant difference, both for businesses and consumers, at a time when every pound counts.
“The past few years have been particularly tough. Whilst I am fortunate to be a one-person business and don’t carry the burden of staffing costs, rising energy bills, increased fuel prices and the growing costs associated with importing and exporting have all had a real impact. Margins are being squeezed from every direction, making it harder for small businesses to invest, grow and plan for the future.
“I’d also like to see stronger protection for small creators, designers and artists. The scale at which original products are copied and sold through large online marketplaces is incredibly frustrating. Many small businesses invest significant amounts of time and money protecting their intellectual property, only to find copies appearing online with little consequence for those responsible. There needs to be greater accountability for the platforms that facilitate this and more meaningful support for the businesses trying to protect the ideas they’ve worked so hard to create.
“Small businesses don’t expect special treatment, but we do need a level playing field and a government that understands the realities we face every day.”
Amanda Marshall, 3DONKEYS
“My immediate reaction is concern around continued uncertainty. Small, service-based businesses like ours rely heavily on stability to plan staffing, pricing, and investment in equipment.
“From the next prime minister, I want to see practical support for SMEs, particularly around reducing red tape, fair taxation, and stronger action on late payments, which can seriously impact cash flow in our industry. There also needs to be more focus on vocational training to bring skilled technicians into trades.
“We don’t need handouts, just a stable, fair environment that allows us to grow and operate with confidence.”
Stephen Wales, Bespoke Pest Control
“I’m glad that Labour has introduced late payment legislation, expanded access to finance for SMEs and have started to reduce the amount of red tape. But there’s still a mountain to climb (metaphorically speaking).
“We need better late payment enforcement. It’s not enough to say that there will be penalties. The penalties need to be severe and swift if they are going to work. If more small businesses are going to flourish, create jobs and boost the economy Labour need to make it easier to hire people and to get investment. They’ve made a little bit of progress, but there’s still a long way to go.”
Angelique Ruzicka, WillowsEarth
“Keir Starmer’s resignation is a moment for the next prime minister to reset the relationship with small business founders. I launched my business this month in Northamptonshire. My local council scrapped the start-up business grant under BIPC.
“Other councils still offer them. That postcode lottery is exactly the kind of inequality the next PM should fix. I want to see a national commitment to local start-up grants, up to £2,000, tied to a supported business planning programme. Not handouts. Earned support. The next PM needs to back founders from day one, wherever they live, especially those onboard with the net zero transition.”
Darin Graham, Daring Media
“Keir Starmer’s resignation is a chance to reset the relationship between government and the people building British businesses from scratch. I want to grow my team, but the cost of employment and day-one rights make hiring feel out of reach for a small business at my stage. I have had to rely on AI and automation to plug the gap instead of bringing in the people I actually need. The next PM needs to reduce employer NI, simplify employment rights for small businesses, and make hiring your first member of staff something to celebrate rather than fear.”
Julia Hartley, Guided Outdoor Adventures
“I’d like the next prime minister to revoke Keir Starmer’s social media ban for under 16 year olds. I’m all for curfews, time limits, strict enforcement that no adults can contact kid, more regulation and fines of platforms, more action on cyber bullying.
“All of those are preferable in my opinion to an outright ban on social media. There does need to be more restrictions on the platforms, but we’ve always celebrated entrepreneurs and business owners in this country. Whether that’s older people like Richard Branson and Alan Sugar or younger entrepreneurs like Ben Francis of Gymshark.
“This generation of entrepreneurs will be the people who know how to market on TikTok and Instagram. This is the modern version of someone selling sweets at school or using the playground as their business launch.
“We shouldn’t be saying “In my day we’d print out some flyers and walk the streets for four hours” – there are more effective ways to build a business these days. Will the social media ban leave UK teenagers at a disadvantage compared with young people in other countries?
“If a 15-year-old in the UK cannot learn content creation, marketing, community building or personal branding, but a 15-year-old elsewhere can, does that create a skills gap?”
Alex McCann, Altrincham HQ
“The next prime minister must be mindful of the need of entrepreneurs who are doing their best to run small businesses, while living with disability and medical conditions. They want to work and that should be reflected in the policies created and the support that is given to enable them to run their small businesses and continue to support the economy including local and government contracts.”
Sonal Dave, celebrant, toastmaster and public speaking expert
“I would like to see less talk about emigration and more focus on how we can strengthen the British economy, address chronic unemployment, reduce council taxes, and lower the cost of living. I would like to hear more solution-focused conversations and not criticise what people did in the past. I would like to hear about how we can all pull together and get out of the current situation.”
Ana Clarke, business strategist
“Much of counselling and psychotherapy in the UK is delivered by qualified practitioners in private practice, many operating as limited companies and often without direct taxpayer funding.
“I would urge the government to recognise the pressures facing small professional businesses. Reducing dividend tax and restoring a meaningful tax-free dividend allowance would help keep small practices viable.
“Ministers should also legally protect the titles ‘counsellor’ and ‘psychotherapist’, which is long overdue for public safety, and extend VAT exemption to mental health therapy services, so more people can access timely, ethical support.”
Sumeet Grover, Grover Olufsen Psychotherapy
Ruth Chappell, Dressage Anywhere
“My focus is less on personalities and more on policies that help small businesses grow. The next prime minister must prioritise reducing barriers to trade, improving access to funding, supporting exporters, and creating a more stable environment for entrepreneurs. Small businesses are the backbone of the UK economy, yet many founders are facing rising costs, complex regulations, and uncertainty.
“As a business expanding into the US, GCC, and potentially India, I want to see stronger support for innovation, international trade, and home-grown brands looking to compete on the global stage.”
Samantha Parkash Singh, Lushka
“I spend a lot of time speaking to business owners across different industries, and one thing I hear again and again is that it feels harder than ever to run a small business.
“Whether it’s hospitality, retail, travel or professional services, many businesses seem to be facing more regulation, rising costs and increasing pressure year after year. Most business owners aren’t asking for handouts. They just want some stability and the confidence to plan ahead.
“I’d like to see the next prime minister pay much closer attention to SMEs. Small businesses create jobs, support local communities and drive growth, yet it can feel like they’re being held back rather than being allowed to thrive. Less bureaucracy, clearer policies and a better understanding of the realities facing entrepreneurs would make a real difference.”
Damien Baxter, Geo Growth Media