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Independent review of guidance provision

Every year almost half of businesses seek external advice about how to follow regulations, spending at least £1.4 billion. The government has commissioned an independent review led by Sarah Anderson CBE into how it can implement policies to give small businesses greater certainty around guidance.

Nature of the review

The review, which will start in early Spring and report in late Autumn 2008, will examine the types, origins, status and reliability of government guidance for small businesses on how to follow regulations. It will look at ways to give small businesses greater certainty that when they have followed guidance that they have complied with the law. It will also examine the impact of legal disclaimers in government guidance on small business confidence when following regulations, and identify ways of making improvements.

Background

The government has already begun work in this area and is currently consulting on a Code of Practice on Good Guidance on Regulations which sets out the standards businesses can expect from government guidance. The government has also launched an Employment Advice Guidance Programme to reduce the amount it costs business to comply with employment law by improving the quality of the existing guidance, making the channels more consistent and streamlined, and raising awareness among employers.

Biography of reviewer

Sarah Anderson ran her own company for 19 years – Mayday Group – a four branch specialist employment business and agency providing catering staff. Other business interests include being joint founder and Director of Simple Solutions Ltd. She is also a non-executive director of Jobcentre Plus, the UK’s largest government agency and Council Member of ACAS. In October 2005 she was appointed Director of London Samaritans and has been a member of the Employment Tribunal Steering Board since April 2006. In the past she has provided ‘Angel’ finance and worked as a small business counsellor in London.