While contributors from the retail sector made 9,000 posts on the Red Tape Challenge website, manufacturers made a mere six – all from the same person.
After such a positive feedback from businesses and individuals working in the retail sector, Vince Cable has announced that the government is to respond positively to concerns voiced on the Red Tape website. Manufacturers, however, are proving to be lax in their approach to voicing their concerns.
Business Minister Mark Prisk said: “We’ve listened to what people have said about the confusing and overlapping rules with the aim to get rid of the ones we don’t need and making the ones we do simpler to understand and put into practice … however we are preserving good regulation, such as the hallmarking regime, for which there was strong support.”
Dr Neil Bentley, CBI deputy director-general, said: “It is crucial that the process of repealing and streamlining regulations happens as soon as possible so that retailers can keep down costs and pass on savings to hard-pressed consumers.”
The Red Tape Challenge is aimed at providing a means to businesses in a number of different sectors to raise issues with government – including retail, hospitality, road transportation, rail and merchant shipping, and manufacturing.
To date, on the demarcated Manufacturing Zone on the website www.redtapechallenge.cabinetoffice.gov.uk, manufacturers have not taken up the opportunity with nearly as much zeal as retail companies.
On Wednesday July 27, one person had made three posts in the manufacturing section, and by Thursday 28 there were six comments in total.
In the retail sector there have been nearly 9,000 posts.
Having been open for comments for a week, it is clear that manufacturers could do with making more of an effort to make their voices heard if barriers to growth are to be broken down for the sector.
To raise issues that concern you or your business, whether you are an employer or an employee, go here.
George Archer
