Fed Small Businesses

Formed in 1974, the FSB now has members spread across 33 regions served by 230 branches providing assistance and support 24 hours a day. With the introduction in 1995 of paid organisers into every Region of the Federation, its image and acceptability has become even more widely known and the internal structure strengthened.

The Federation is well positioned to influence policy with its direct access to politicians and civil servants in Westminster and Whitehall as well as in the European Commission through its Brussels office. Its lobbying arm - led by the Westminster Press and Parliamentary office - applies pressure on MPs, Government and Whitehall, lobbies politicians in their constituencies and puts the Federation's viewpoint over to the media. The Federation also has Press and Parliamentary Offices in Glasgow, Cardiff and Belfast to lobby the devolved assemblies on behalf of members. Area Policy Development Officers work alongside Regional Development Agencies to further FSB influence at the regional level.

There will always be a role for the FSB, until the time finally comes when there is no fight for us to fight, because regulation, legislation, bureaucracy, unfair competition, unfairness in taxation, unfair trading and discrimination against small businesses has ended. The growing membership and consequent lobbying strength will firmly establish the Federation as the true voice of the now over five million individuals running businesses in the United Kingdom.

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intellectual property awareness}

Federation of Small Businesses

**For more information, please see the FSB website or contact:**

raising intellectual property awareness

Federation of Small Businesses

For more information, please see the FSB website or contact:

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intellectual property awareness}

**For more information, please see the FSB website or contact:**