Welsh Conservatives
1. How would your party ensure that small businesses are genuinely placed at the centre of Welsh Government decision-making and policy development?
We know that only with a strong economy can we invest in our vital public services that people rely on and deliver our plan. That is why the Welsh Conservatives frame their support for small businesses as central to strengthening the Welsh economy, arguing that economic growth, job creation and thriving town centres all depend on putting small firms at the heart of decisionmaking.
Reducing costs and red tape for small businesses is key to unlocking wider economic recovery. Overall, we present a low-tax, lower-regulation approach as the best way to stimulate investment, protect family firms, and drive sustainable economic growth across Wales.
2. What measures would your party introduce to revitalise Wales’s struggling high streets?
Our proposals focus on abolishing business rates for small businesses, opposing tax increases such as higher employer national insurance contributions, scrapping the planned tourism tax, and expanding free town-centre parking to boost footfall.
We believe that we can improve footfall through measures like free parking, investing in infrastructure such as transport and broadband to improve connectivity, and strengthening skills and apprenticeships to ensure SMEs can access a well-trained workforce
3. What actions would your party take to boost SME productivity across Wales?
To boost SME productivity across Wales, our party would focus on creating the right economic environment for small and medium-sized enterprises to invest and grow.
We would strengthen skills and apprenticeships to address workforce shortages and help SMEs adopt new technologies, including digital tools and automation that drive productivity gains. Finally, we would support vibrant town centres through practical measures such as improved access and parking, ensuring local businesses can attract customers and compete effectively.
4. What specific policies would your party implement to reduce the rising costs of doing business for SMEs in Wales? FSB Wales in conversation with:
To reduce the rising costs of doing business for SMEs in Wales, our party would implement a targeted package focused on lowering fixed overheads, easing tax burdens, and cutting unnecessary regulation.
First, we would abolish business rates for small businesses to ease one of the biggest fixed costs facing high-street firms and local employers. We would oppose further increases in employer taxes such as National Insurance contributions, which directly increase the cost of hiring and retaining staff.
We would also scrap additional levies that disproportionately affect small firms, such as the proposed tourism tax, and review regulatory requirements to remove duplication and reduce compliance costs, particularly for smaller businesses. To support energy intensive SMEs, we would push for measures that mitigate high energy costs, including exploring targeted relief or support schemes.
In addition, we would expand free or reduced-cost town-centre parking to boost footfall for local retailers and hospitality businesses, helping to increase revenue without increasing prices.
We would also improve access to finance and ensure prompt payment practices in public procurement, so small firms are not burdened by cash-flow pressures.
Together, these policies are designed to lower overheads, improve cash flow, and give SMEs the financial headroom to invest, grow, and increase productivity across Wales.
5. What commitments would your party make to prioritise skills-led economic growth for SMEs in Wales?
Our party would commit to a clear, skills-led strategy to drive SME growth across Wales, recognising that higher productivity depends on a well-trained, adaptable workforce.
First, we would undertake a national skills audit to identify current and future skills gaps across key sectors and regions of Wales. This audit would be developed in partnership with SMEs, industry bodies, colleges and universities to ensure training provision is aligned with real labour market demand. The findings would directly shape funding priorities and apprenticeship frameworks, ensuring public investment targets the areas of greatest economic need.
We would expand and strengthen apprenticeships, particularly in sectors where SMEs play a major role such as manufacturing, construction, hospitality, digital services and green industries. We would ensure small businesses have a stronger voice in designing apprenticeship standards so that training reflects practical workplace requirements. We would improve access to flexible, modular training to help SMEs upskill existing staff without disrupting operations. Short, accredited courses focused on digital skills, leadership, management and new technologies would allow businesses to raise productivity while remaining competitive.
We would also promote closer collaboration between SMEs, further education institutions and universities to improve knowledge transfer and innovation, while simplifying access to skills funding to reduce administrative burdens on small firms.
By combining a comprehensive skills audit with targeted training reforms and employer led design, we would aim to build a workforce that meets business needs, strengthens SME productivity and supports long-term economic growth across Wales.
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Please note the above information, via the Welsh Conservative Party, was submitted by Sam Rowlands.