About Us

A British high street at dusk, with Westminster on the skyline

About SME4Labour

SME4Labour is an independent, not-for-profit network bringing together Labour supporters from Britain’s small and medium business community with trade unions, parliamentarians, councillors and others interested in building a strong, fair and inclusive economy.

We believe small and medium businesses should be at the heart of Britain’s economic future and that Labour should be the natural home for the people who create jobs, take risks, build businesses and strengthen their communities.

SME4Labour is not affiliated with, or formally part of, the Labour Party. We are an independent organisation that proudly supports Labour’s values, candidates and campaigns.

What We Do

Our purpose is to build bridges between small and medium businesses, the Labour movement and public life.

We organise roundtables, conferences, receptions, briefings, awards, lunches, dinners and other events where people can exchange ideas, share experiences and develop a better understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing Britain’s small and medium business community.

Our events bring together:

Small and medium business owners and entrepreneurs
Start-ups and growing businesses
Family-run and community businesses
Trade unions and workers’ representatives
MPs, peers, mayors and councillors
Academics, policy specialists and community leaders

These events provide an open and constructive environment for discussion about economic growth, employment, skills, access to finance, business taxation, procurement, innovation, sustainability, high streets and regional development.

Throughout the year, SME4Labour delivers an extensive programme of events across the United Kingdom. We also host a major programme during the Labour Party Conference, bringing together small and medium business owners, Labour representatives, trade unions and other stakeholders for discussions about the economy and the future of enterprise in Britain.

Our work is based on participation, dialogue and knowledge-sharing. SME4Labour does not claim to speak on behalf of every small and medium business. Instead, we provide a platform through which different experiences, ideas and perspectives can be shared and better understood.

Participation in an SME4Labour event does not mean that we endorse every view expressed, nor does it guarantee that a particular proposal will be adopted by SME4Labour or any public representative.

Inclusive Engagement

The UK’s small and medium business community is extraordinarily diverse. It includes sole traders, start-ups, family businesses, high-street retailers, hospitality businesses, manufacturers, social enterprises, professional services and innovative technology companies.

We want that diversity to be reflected in our work.

SME4Labour seeks to create opportunities for people and businesses that may not ordinarily participate in political or economic discussions. We want experiences from every region, community and sector to be heard and respected.

Our events are intended to encourage wider participation, strengthen relationships and recognise the contribution that small and medium-sized businesses make to the economy and their communities.

Why SMEs Matter

Small and medium-sized enterprises are the backbone of the UK economy.

At the beginning of 2025, the UK had approximately 5.7 million private-sector businesses. SMEs represented around 99.8% of those businesses and accounted for approximately 60% of private-sector employment and 51% of private-sector turnover.

From high streets and neighbourhood shops to manufacturers, hospitality businesses and innovative start-ups, SMEs create jobs, support supply chains and contribute to communities in every part of the country.

Small and medium businesses are also important sources of innovation, opportunity and social mobility. Their local knowledge, flexibility and entrepreneurial spirit enable them to respond quickly to new challenges and opportunities.

SME4Labour celebrates that contribution and creates opportunities for SME owners to share their experiences, learn from others and participate in wider discussions about Britain’s economic future.

Independent and Not-for-Profit

SME4Labour operates on a not-for-profit basis. It has no shareholders and does not distribute profits to individuals.

Any surplus is used to support SME4Labour’s activities and further its not-for-profit purpose.

Our income may include:

Membership fees
Individual donations
Tickets and table sales
Advertising in our publications and event materials
Event sponsorship
Fundraising lunches and dinners

This income enables us to organise events, maintain our communications and digital platforms, support our activities and provide opportunities for greater participation.

Financial support does not provide control over SME4Labour’s positions, guarantee a particular policy outcome or secure preferential treatment from any political representative. Event partners and supporters are clearly identified where appropriate.

Transparency and ORCL Registration

SME4Labour’s purpose is not to provide commercial public-affairs or lobbying services. Our principal activities are organising events, encouraging discussion, supporting Labour campaigns and creating opportunities for SMEs to participate in public life.

Following engagement with the Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists, SME4Labour joined the statutory Register of Consultant Lobbyists in the interests of transparency and compliance.

The Registrar’s framework may apply to certain communications connected with financially supported activities. We therefore take a cautious and transparent approach to registration and reporting.

The term “client” is used by ORCL for the purposes of the statutory register. In SME4Labour’s case, organisations appearing on the register may include event sponsors, event partners or organisations that have purchased tickets or tables.

This terminology does not necessarily describe a conventional client–consultant relationship. An organisation’s appearance on the register should not be interpreted as meaning that SME4Labour has been retained to promote its commercial interests.

SME4Labour does not accept payment in return for securing a particular decision or policy outcome, guaranteeing access to a minister or other public representative, or providing preferential political treatment.

Sponsorship and other financial support help meet the cost of delivering our events and wider programme. They do not allow a supporter to control SME4Labour’s positions or activities.

We make the declarations required of us through the appropriate channels and remain committed to openness about how our work is supported.

Further information about ORCL and the statutory register is available from the Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists.

Our Values

Our work is guided by:

Openness and transparency
Constructive and respectful dialogue
Inclusion and wider participation
Recognition of the contribution made by SMEs
Fairness at work and responsible business
Stronger relationships between businesses, workers and communities
Support for Labour values and campaigns

We are proud of our work supporting small and medium-sized businesses, and we are proud to support the Labour Party and its representatives across the country.

Join SME4Labour

Become part of a growing community bringing small and medium businesses and the Labour movement together.

Whether you want to attend our events, contribute to discussions, meet fellow Labour supporters or help us celebrate the contribution made by SMEs, we would be delighted to welcome you.

Become a member of SME4Labour

Transparency and Our Registration with the Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists (ORCL)

SME4Labour is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting the Labour Party and Labour campaigns, while championing the voice of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the UK. We campaign on issues that affect SMEs and the communities they serve, but we are not a lobbying organisation for any individual company or industry.

To ensure complete transparency and in line with guidance from the Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists (ORCL), SME4Labour has joined the ORCL register. We are always happy to disclose who we are working with and who is supporting our fundraising events and broader activities.

Our income is generated through:

Membership fees
Ticket and table sales at our events (including dinners and lunches)
Advertising in our publications
Event sponsorship
Fundraising Dinners

It is important to stress that sponsorship or any financial support does not provide any privilege, influence, or access to political figures. Our fundraising supports our mission to promote dialogue between SMEs and the Labour movement.

SME4Labour is not affiliated with the Labour Party but proudly supports its values and campaigns. We exist to give small businesses a platform to be heard and to contribute meaningfully to policy development that affects their livelihoods.

We have recently migrated our website to a new platform, and while much of the site is now updated, a few pages remain under review. These are being updated as a matter of priority.

We take our role seriously and continue to make all required declarations through the appropriate channels, including Companies House and ORCL. As a not-for-profit, every pound raised goes directly into delivering our events and advancing our work to support SMEs and the Labour movement.