Key Summary
- Emma Jones has been appointed as the new small business commissioner by The Department for Business and Trade, taking over from Liz Barclay on 23 June.
- Jones will focus on tackling late payments and long payment terms for small businesses and the self-employed, leveraging technology to speed up payments and access to support.
- The government has announced a range of measures to support small firms, including the launch of a revamped Board of Trade and a major consultation to address the issue of late payments.
The Department for Business and Trade has on Tuesday announced the appointment of Emma Jones, founder of Enterprise Nation, as the new small business commissioner.
She will take up the role on 23 June following the completion of Liz Barclay’s four-year term as the current commissioner.
Barclay has been instrumental in designing and delivering the new Fair Payment Code which launched in December 2024.
Since then, over 300 businesses have already become Fair Payment Code awardees with a commitment to paying their suppliers quickly.
She has also played a key role in helping design potential future legislative measures to tackle late payments and long payment terms, with a major consultation set to be published in the coming months.
“I’m delighted that in Emma Jones’s appointment, we have someone who has long championed small firms and entrepreneurs right across the UK. I am confident that her passion and expertise will ensure small firms have a powerful advocate fighting in their corner,” Gareth Thomas, small business minister, said.
“And I want to thank Liz Barclay for her work over the past four years as commissioner, during which time she has worked tirelessly in supporting the nation’s small businesses.”
In her new position, Jones will be a key player in tackling late payments and long payment terms for small businesses and the self-employed. The government is committed to tackling this problem, which has for too long been a scourge for small businesses. Research has found that in 2024, SMEs were owed on average £21,400 in late payments.
“Having done it myself, I know the commitment it takes to start and grow a successful business. Founders tell me they are time poor and spending too many precious hours on non-productive work like chasing debt. This is limiting their capacity to focus on growth and we want to change that,” Jones said.
“Through the Office of the Small Business Commissioner, we will make life easier for small business owners by leveraging technology to speed up payments and access to support.
“This work will be delivered in partnership with government and industry with a shared desire to enable founders to focus on what they do best and retain the UK’s status as a great place to start and grow a business.”
The small business commissioner plays a vital role in supporting the UK’s 5.5 million small businesses by working to ensure they are treated fairly by larger companies and can access the support they need to thrive. The office also provides practical advice and resources to help small businesses resolve payment disputes and navigate commercial challenges.
The government has already announced a raft of measures to support small firms across the country.
A revamped Board of Trade tasked with helping more small firms was launched earlier this year, and comes ahead of a major consultation to tackle the scourge of late payments.
Last year, the Treasury extended business rates relief for the hospitality sector and the business secretary announced a new Business Growth Service to make it easier and quicker for SMEs to access and benefit from the right government advice and support for their business.
