Back to Fiona's work in the North East
Economy
Fiona, John Shipley and Carol Woods launch the North East Small Business Survey
Fiona has a strong record of working with local businesses across North East England. Over the past five years she has engaged with companies as diverse as utility firms, car and other manufacturers, British sustainable biofuel producers, ports companies, telecommunication services, local organ pipe makers and many more.
She has recently launched a Small Business Survey in the North East to find out more about the challenges small and medium sized businesses are facing in the recession and how best to help them. She also supports the North East Federation of Small Businesses and their "Think Small First" campaign urging policy makers in Europe and the UK to consider the needs of smaller entreprises when drafting business measures and legislation.
Fiona has been fighting to keep the UK's opt out of the European Working Time Directive that legally limits the working week to 48 hours. In times of recession, Fiona stresses the importance of flexibility at the working place and shares the North East Chamber of Commerce's evaluation that scrapping the opt-out is a bitter blow for businesses and workers alike.
Fiona co-operates closely with Regional Development Agency One NorthEast. For example, she has campaigned extensively alongside One NorthEast to raise awareness amongst regional businesses of new European laws such as REACH for the chemical industry which affects small and large businesses alike.
Additionally, Fiona actively supports North East England's bid to become a European leader in renewable energy, energy efficiency solutions and related research. She keeps in touch with the region's universities and leading research centres and raises awareness for substantial European research funding. (Also see section on renewable energy)
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