managing regulation: what small firms need to know 12 th June 2012

1. managing regulation: what small firms need to know12th June 2012

2. agenda 1.00 what are your assumptions about regulation? 1.15 our project 1.25 our findings: how you enhance firm performance 2.20 coffee 2.35 have your say: what goes on in your firm? 3.35 wrap up

3. what are your assumptions about regulation?

6. the fieldwork • collection of data from web, trade press etc. • keeping abreast of policy developments • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmmQao_Hjeg • interviews with owner-managers, workers, policy makers, regulatory bodies, VCs... • three sweeps of interviewing and observing work in each of 14 sample firms

7. our findings in 7 questions:how you enhance firm performance • in what ways can regulation be a burden to you? • in what ways can regulation be an opportunity for you? • what kinds of regulation matter most to you? • who is regulating you? • in what ways do you shape regulation? • who helps you manage regulation? • how do you get on with regulators?

8. 1. in what ways can regulation be a burden to you? • the usual suspects: staff time = cost, administrative duplication, lack of enforcement, unclear and inconsistent guidelines, employment law stacked in favour of employee, unfair for small firms... • it assumes the worst of us: employment law • “built on a premise that all employers are bastards!” (bio-science – maternity) • lack of clarity about policy intentions and timing • “the speed and clarity of decisions damages businesses” • (sustainable technology – Feed-in-Tariff policy) • trend of displacing burden to the firm • “all they've done by that is move the anxiety and the burden onto the firms” (bio-tech software – Companies House audit)

9. 2. in what ways can regulation be an opportunity for you? • creates market opportunities • promotes innovation: incentives for new technology development (imaging technologies – airport security) • changes in policy frame market behaviour (sustainable technology – energy incentives policy) • signals legitimacy in the marketplace • “keeps out the cowboys” (environmental services – complying with laboratory protocols) • signals market leadership • internal code of conduct to alter behaviour in supply chain (sustainable technology) • sustains regulatory services industry: creates jobs!

10. 3. what kinds of regulation matter most to you? • investment in core business model versus ‘simple compliance’ • sector specific intellectual property versus out-sourced generic health and safety (drug delivery technologies) • protection from litigation • expert advice on redundancy procedures (digital communications)

11. 4. who is regulating you? • not just the government, but your financiers • current and future investors require certain behaviours from us (drug delivery technologies) • other firms or parent companies • imposing standards, IT systems, targets, culture (drug development – customers/supply chain) • you! • your culture, aspirations and expectations (sustainable technology - professionalization)

12. 5. in what ways do you shape regulation? • lobbying regulatory bodies • meetings with regulators, UK, EU, global (security technology – emerging rules/policies: airport security) • routinely exercising your voice • sitting on various boards, steering groups (environmental services – engagement with EA)

13. 6. who helps you manage regulation? • external consultants and experts • feeling safe, especially with HR regulation (bio-tech software – “it’s a security blanket”) • personal contacts and old friends/colleagues • knowledge sharing via adapting documentation/systems from a previous employer (environmental services – ISO compliance) • regulators • consulting regulatory body prior to innovation (drug delivery, paying MHRA: “it was money well spent”)

14. 7. how do you get on with regulators? • lots of you don’t • limited contact, little knowledge or understanding (“Our relationship with HMRC? There is none” medical technology developer) • some of you have regular informal contact which is strategically useful (environmental testing – HSE Inspector: “not everyone’s got that degree of access”)

15. coffee

16. discussion groups – have your say • Do our findings reflect yourexperiences or those of your clients? • Are there any other regulatory issues you would like to raise?

17. wrap up • http://www.ncl.ac.uk/nubs/research/projects/rebel.htm • our dissemination plans (e.g. FSB, EA, BRDO...) • June 29th policy-oriented conference (BIS, London) • Where Next for Small Business Regulation? Building Better Policy, 12.30-2.30 • register: http://forms.ncl.ac.uk/view.php?id=3190 • further academic research • further knowledge exchange grants • post-doctoral researcher • how else can we reach you (and other firms) with our messages? • please complete feedback form

18. thank you