HMRC STAFF TO GAIN HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE OF LIFE IN SMALL BUSINESSES

On 24 May HMRC staff will spend time at Sinnett & Tansley, a firm of Chartered Accountants in Reading, courtesy of 'Business Buddy', a Forum of Private Business initiative that has already had more than 70 politicians placed in firms in their constituencies.

Previous placements have included Business Secretary Vince Cable at a furniture manufacturer, Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham at a chemical factory in his Leigh constituency and Green Party leader Caroline Lucas, who manned the tills at a fruit and vegetable shop in Brighton.

The scheme has been widened to include HMRC staff, who have signed up to the initiative so they can develop a greater understanding of the trials, tribulations and opportunities facing small business owners in order to improve working relationships with them.