Small Business Friendly

Somerset commits to being Small Business Friendly

Somerset Regional Council cemented its support for the region’s small businesses by signing the Small Business Friendly Councils (SBFC) charter on 14 April 2021.

By signing this charter, we made a pledge to support small business. Council is committed to raising the profile and capability of small business and supporting business resilience and recovery. We also vow to continue promoting and showcasing small business.

The Small Business Friendly (SBF) Program brings people together around a common goal to enhance the operating environment for small businesses and provide the opportunities they need to thrive. 

  • Becoming small business friendly requires leadership and a whole of organisation effort to work collaboratively with small business.
  • Members sign a commitment to be small business friendly and to continuously improving what they do.
  • The program provides a network and tools to increase awareness, share ideas, improve support, and reduce barriers.
  • It is about putting people at the centre of our efforts, continuously learning, and finding ways to do things differently.

View Council's 2025-26 Small Business Friendly Action Plan(PDF, 169KB)

The Small Business Friendly Commitment

Uplifting the capability of small businesses

  • Providing support and guidance to improve capabilities
  • Helping improve digital literacy and drive the use of technology
  • Promoting opportunities to grow skills and workforce.

Fostering ecosystems that help small businesses thrive

  • Actively communicating and engaging with small businesses
  • Enhancing policies, practices and minimising red tape
  • Building resilience to respond and recover from disasters and major business disruptions

Promoting small businesses and vibrant economies

  • Promoting opportunities and raising the profile of small businesses
  • Supporting place-making and the creation of circular economies
  • Supporting trusted networks that help small businesses learn and succeed

Enabling small business development and success

  • Creating an annual small business action plan (or equivalent)
  • Developing our understanding of the economic environment
  • Championing small business investment and procurement

Working together for small business

  • Advocating about challenges and opportunities facing small businesses
  • Collaborating and partnering to enhance the operating environment for small business
  • Monitoring and reporting on our performance

Members of the program must also meet the membership requirements including:

  • Authorising an organisational representative and proxy to champion the commitment
  • Implementing an annual Small Business Action Plan, or equivalent, each financial year
  • Actively participating in at least four SBF Program activities each financial year
  • Attending the SBF Program Annual Conference in person or virtually
  • Publicly promoting local small business initiatives
  • Submitting a financial year Annual Report to the QSBC by 30 September each year.

Small Business Friendly logo 

Back to top