SMEs can still make an impact with decision makers in the General Election
It’s called a short campaign, but for those of use directly involved in general election campaigns it feels anything but. Early morning calls. Late night calls. Preparing for visits. Preparing for hustings. Door knocking. More door knocking. Endless data entry. And doing whatever you can to ensure your candidate makes it to polling day in good shape.
But those of us who eat, sleep and breathe this stuff are in the minority. Most people are already thinking ahead to 6 July and what any of the possible outcomes might mean for them. And businesses will be exactly the same.
Lots of us were taken by surprise by the timing of the General Election, coming hot on the heels of local government elections in May. It’s left lots of SMEs (and bigger businesses) feeling underprepared for the impact of inevitable post-election, and if that applies to you, my message is don’t panic! There are still plenty of things SMEs can do to be ready for effective engagement with a new government.
1. Be useful. Write to local candidates now and offer a visit to show them around your business. Be clear about your impact in your community, and help them understand the issues for your business or sector. Even if the visit doesn’t happen until after the election, you will be on their radar and remembered as someone who reached out.
2. Be the solution. Manifestos are ready to drop, but that doesn’t mean you can’t influence the shape of delivery. Politicians don’t get down into the detail of delivery and will be wary of unintended consequences, if you can point out challenges and offer practical solutions, you are much more likely to influence thinking.
3. Build alliances. It’s worth finding out what your local Chamber of Commerce is doing, or your local business network or even your trade association if you have one. They may be co-ordinating engagement, and it could be worth adding your voice.
4. Be gracious. Even if your preferred candidate isn’t successful, it’s worth offering well-wishes to your new MP and offering to be helpful once the election is over. You may need their support in the future, and having been in touch will help get the relationship off to a smooth start.
5. Be prepared. You don’t need to develop a detailed public affairs strategy – but it’s worth reviewing the manifestos and understanding what likely policy or regulatory change might impact your business. If you think you might need some help, talk to an SME specialist like us and we can look at how we can support you. hello@aweandsonder.com