On 16 January, Scayl was proud to welcome Rishi Sunak, our local Member of Parliament, to our business in Richmondshire. The visit gave us the opportunity to showcase what we do, meet our team, and discuss the opportunities and challenges faced by small businesses across all sectors.
With his press team present to capture the visit, the day highlighted the importance of strong relationships between local businesses, councils and political representatives, not only for growth and funding, but also for visibility, recognition and community connection.
Why a Visit from Your Local MP Is So Valuable for Small Businesses
For many small businesses, engaging with politics can feel distant. However, inviting your local MP into your business can deliver meaningful, long-term benefits.
Raising Visibility, Credibility and Recognition
When a Member of Parliament visits your business, it sends a powerful message that your work matters. Recognition at this level is a huge success for any small business, it validates your contribution to the local economy, your workforce and your community.
This visibility builds trust with customers, suppliers and partners, and reinforces your reputation as a credible and established business within your sector.
A Powerful Marketing and PR Opportunity
An MP visit is also an excellent marketing and public relations opportunity, especially for small businesses with limited marketing budgets.
Professional photographs, press coverage and social media content created during the visit can be shared across websites, newsletters, and social platforms. This allows businesses to confidently shout about what they do, celebrate their team, and tell their story in an authentic way.
Sharing these moments helps strengthen community engagement and demonstrates that your business is recognised, active and proud of its work.
data-end="2447" data-start="2410">Giving Small Businesses a Voice
Political visits provide a valuable platform for businesses to speak openly about their challenges and ambitions. Whether it’s skills shortages, rising costs or barriers to growth, direct conversations help MPs understand the realities facing small businesses.
These insights are crucial when policies, funding frameworks and business support schemes are being shaped.
The Importance of Staying Connected with Your Local Council: Benefits and Resources
Local councils play a central role in supporting economic growth, yet many small businesses don’t fully explore the help available.
One of the most valuable, and often overlooked, resources available to small businesses is the Business Growth Service, supported by the Business Board Network and delivered locally through Growth Hubs, often in partnership with local councils.
The Business Growth Service has been designed to make it easier for businesses to find and access the advice and support they need, without confusion or unnecessary complexity.
Growth Hubs act as the local gateway to government-backed business support, working closely with councils and regional authorities to ensure support is tailored to local economic needs.
Because Growth Hubs are embedded within local areas, they understand regional priorities, funding opportunities and sector-specific challenges. This makes them a natural extension of your local council’s business support offering and a key link between businesses, councils and national government.
What Support Can Growth Hubs and Councils Provide?
Through Growth Hubs, businesses can access:
- Free, expert advice tailored to their specific business needs
- Local, one-to-one support delivered by experienced advisers
- Direct connections to local council funding, grants and initiatives
- Links to wider UK Government resources and national programmes
- Trusted, up-to-date information led by local business people
Growth Hubs complement existing council-led business support, helping councils deliver practical guidance while ensuring businesses don’t have to navigate multiple systems alone.
How Local Councils Can Support Apprenticeships and Skills Development
Local councils are often the first point of contact for businesses looking to hire apprentices or invest in training. They work closely with government initiatives, educational institutions, and local businesses to provide tailored support. Here’s how they help:
1. Access to Funding and Incentives
Councils can help businesses identify and apply for government funding to cover the costs of apprenticeship training and assessment. This makes apprenticeships affordable for small businesses and reduces the financial risk of taking on new staff.
- Councils often maintain up-to-date lists of grants, bursaries, and incentive schemes
- They can help businesses understand eligibility criteria and deadlines
- Some councils run local apprenticeship incentive schemes, topping up government funding to encourage businesses to hire more apprentices
2. Connecting Businesses with Local Talent
Councils collaborate with schools, colleges, universities, and training providers to match businesses with skilled young people ready for apprenticeships.
- They can help businesses advertise apprenticeship opportunities locally
- Councils facilitate job fairs, recruitment events, and networking sessions, making it easier to find motivated candidates
- By linking businesses to young talent in the area, councils help strengthen the local workforce and support community development
At Scayl, we are proud to actively recruit young talent and currently have three apprentices within our business. By providing real-world experience and training opportunities, we are strong advocates for hiring young people in our local community.
We see first-hand how apprentices bring energy, creativity, and fresh ideas to our team, while also gaining the skills and experience they need to kickstart their careers. Supporting young talent isn’t just good for the community, it’s a vital part of building a skilled, future-ready workforce for our business.
3. Advice and Guidance
Councils provide expert advice on apprenticeship schemes, helping businesses:
- Choose the right apprenticeship framework or standard for their sector
- Understand regulatory requirements and compliance (e.g., health and safety, contracts, qualifications)
- Plan long-term workforce development strategies aligned with business goals
Investment, Grants and Funding: Why They Matter
Access to investment and funding can be a turning point for small businesses. Whether you’re looking to expand, invest in new equipment, improve productivity or innovate, external funding can reduce financial risk and accelerate growth.
Why Investment Is so Important
Investment allows businesses to:
- scale more quickly
- improve efficiency
- adopt new technologies
- create jobs
- and strengthen long-term resilience
Government backed venture capital schemes also offer tax reliefs to investors, making it easier for small businesses to attract funding and unlock growth opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach.
Why It’s Important to Look Out for Grants
Grants are particularly valuable because they often do not need to be repaid. Local councils and government departments regularly release grant funding aimed at supporting productivity, sustainability, innovation and business growth.
However, these opportunities are often time-limited and competitive. Many grants:
- have strict eligibility criteria
- require advance preparation
- and operate on short application windows
Staying engaged with your local council, MP and Growth Hub ensures you hear about funding opportunities early, giving you time to prepare strong applications and maximise your chances of success.
Being Proactive Makes the Difference
Businesses that actively engage with councils and support organisations are often better positioned to access funding. They are aware of upcoming schemes, understand what funders are looking for, and can align their growth plans accordingly.
Regular communication turns funding from a missed opportunity into a strategic advantage.
Innovation, Talent and Long-Term Growth
Government-backed initiatives such as Innovate UK support businesses of all sizes to develop new ideas through funding and research collaboration. Their Knowledge Transfer Network connects businesses to expertise, finance and markets.
Additionally, Start-up and Innovator visas make it easier to access international talent, helping businesses bring in new skills and perspectives to support long-term growth.
Final Thoughts: Engagement Is an Opportunity Worth Taking
Inviting your local MP to visit your business is about more than politics. It creates opportunities for:
- recognition and visibility
- marketing and PR
- access to grants, investment and advice
- and stronger community connections
At Scayl, we were proud to welcome our local MP and share our story, and we encourage small businesses in all sectors to see engagement as a powerful step toward future growth.