Federation of Small Businesses Reviews 

We met our local membership advisor Jane Martin having attended a networking event. We met for a coffee to discuss the benefits of what the FSB had to offer and we quickly saw that becoming a member for the networking alone was worth our yearly subscription however, Jane didn't want to just sign us up, she wanted to know about where our business was, what goals we had and any blockers we had that were preventing us to move forward.
At the time we had been chasing an unpaid invoice for 4 months and although it wasn't a huge amount for a Small Business it was a lot and the cost of seeking legal help outweighed the option of looking at this. Jane explained about the legal guidance and free documents that the FSB had to offer and within 24 hours of signing up we were able to get access to support and documents, another 48 hours later we had sent a letter and we had been paid the invoice. That invoice paid for our membership alone.

Since then we have worked closely with Jane and Tim Aker the Development Manager. We have attended networking events, been connected with businesses who have supported and grown our business, had a direct connection with local MP's to lobby issues and have utilised the legal support and insurance discounts.

We cannot thank the FSB for all it has done for us in growing our business and supporting our success. I will attribute this down to the incredible support we have in Jane and Tim who truly are assets to organisation.

I attended the speed networking today at the Plaza in Braintree. It was well organised, and well worth my time. It's a great way to meet many small business owners.

Had a lovely networking event with this business. The hosts make you feel welcome and give you a chance to be heard, a perfect opportunity to connect with others. Highly recommend for anyone who owns a small business to connect with others.

Joining the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has been one of the best decisions for my business. The support they provide is invaluable, from legal and financial advice to expert guidance tailored for small businesses.

What truly sets FSB apart is the thriving community and networking opportunities. I've made so many meaningful connections that have not only helped me grow professionally but have also led to new business opportunities. The events, webinars, and local meet-ups are packed with insightful information and real-world advice from fellow entrepreneurs.

FSB genuinely cares about small businesses, and their advocacy work ensures our voices are heard. If you're a small business owner looking for support, networking, and growth opportunities, I highly recommend joining FSB! 🚀👏

An excellent portal that we use frequently when we have questions on all legal matters including Human Resources. Very easy to get a person to talk to who give clear and concise advice. This is excellent value for money for a small business.

I've had a mixed experience with the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). The events are well-organised and offer some useful insights, and their team members like Martin, Victoria, Jane, and Tim are genuinely supportive and attentive. However, while there are benefits like legal advice and helpful resources, I feel some of the perks aren't as substantial as advertised. Overall, it's a good organisation with potential value, but not quite a game-changer for me yet. Perfectly fine, but not outstanding.

I have been a member for around 6 years and find the membership is real value for money.

I recently attended the Bootcamp event at Hothorpe Hall in Leicestershire which was inspiring, engaging and full of memorable tips and advice from some fantastic speakers. The day was extremely well organised and felt like a great use of, what is often precious, time as a small business owner.

Brilliant organisation, super events, high value services. I made my membership fee back from what I saved on their insurance brokerage.

I have recently become a member of FSB and decided to try some of their online networking - yesterday it was the turn of South West London Virtual Networking. It was great! The organization was efficient, valuable information was passed and great connections made! It was a relaxed environment and very enjoyable for an online networking meeting ;) Well done FSB! And a big shout out to Sarah, Mia and Celia - fabulous!

I attended the Cheshire Event recently hosted by Darren Gallimore for the first time and it was lovely. I liked the format of an in-depth presentation from one of the members and then several breakout rooms. Friendly and welcoming

FSB has a wide diversity of benefits for members and direct line 24/7 support for various advice and services. Knowing that this support, information, advice and various benefits (e.g. access to insurance) are there has really put my mind at rest as I enter the business world for the first time. Being a member is going to be extremely useful. I've just been shown the range of support and services available as a member, and it's very useful!

The FSB has been an absolute godsend to us since we joined in May of last year. Every single member of staff has been so very helpful and supportive and I cannot praise them highly enough for everything they have done to support us. As well as having a personal point of contact for your geographical area (a shout out here to the brilliant Jane Martin!), they provide legal advice, have a wide variety of policies, contracts and other documents as templates you can use in many different areas and they organise a number of networking opportunities, all of which is exactly what a small business needs. They really do go above and beyond and we are very grateful. Thank you, FSB!

We are a small start up in Essex ( Cactus Renewables Limited) and Ann Scott and Nadine La Reine have been really helpful in assisting us and progressing our business. Really looking forward to 2025. If you are a small business and you aren't a member you really are missing out.

Signed up, as it looked like a useful set of services to have as a small UK business.

However, the first time I need some legal guidance (regarding the impact on UK businesses of the new EU GPSR that comes into force on the 13th of December, 2024) I was politely but firmly informed that as it isn't UK law, they can't advise.

This seems odd as any UK business that sells to EU customers need to (apparently) be compliant with this new EU law (even if you are not in the EU). There is no statement that the legal advice is only related to UK law; very misleading!

Won't be renewing and will also be requesting the subscription to be cancelled and have a full refund (as it isn't fit for purpose on the legal side)!

New to the world of networking I was taken aback at how great the FSB networking events are!

Today I attended a virtual session with an amazing group of inspiring women. In normal life, it's very rare that you join a call or walk into a room and people just naturally talk. But at the FSB events, this is what happens. People who generally want to know what you do and how they can support you.

The event today was full of engaging conversation with people who you might not cross paths with in the world of work but are truly there to support and help in any way they can.

This was also true in the face-to-face event I attended last week again a room of engaged business people who wanted to engage in conversation with everyone in the room.

The FSB events are very well organized and a great way of networking.

I highly recommend it!

Such good value for our business. When you're a small business you sometimes think is this an additional outgoing I want but things like the included legal advice are so worth it. We would highly recommend any SME to join the FSB

I have been working with FSB Essex including David Bell, Ann Scott, David Barnes, Mike Russell and the team since 2020. I joined FSB when I started my business East Saxon Training and have used the insurance service, and legal hub online as well as attending local events organized by FSB Essex. They are all friendly, helpful very supportive and a great help to any small business owner.

I have had the pleasure of attending FSB networking events, and I can't recommend them highly enough. These events are truly outstanding! The room is always filled with great people who are not only welcoming but also genuinely supportive of each other's businesses.

What stands out the most is the sense of community and collaboration. The networking opportunities are invaluable, and the business support offered through these events has been a game-changer for me. Whether you're looking to make new connections, gain insights, or grow your business, FSB events are the perfect platform.

A big thank you to the FSB team for organising such impactful and well-run events. I'll definitely be attending more in the future!

The FSB has been a great help over the past year with some great advice. They have also held some very positive and proactive events. I would recommend them as a great place for help if you are a new small business or a long standing one.