YOUNG ENTREPENUERS QUIZ CANDIDATE

1.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 27th Sep 2007

Stephen Gilbert, the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for St Austell & Newquay, fielded questions from over 50 young professionals from across Cornwall last night at an event organised by The Hub business network.

The question and answer session took place at the Blue Bar in Porthtowan and Stephen Gilbert was joined on the panel by County Councillor Bert Biscoe and Head of the Regional Development Agency in Cornwall, Stephen Bohane.

Topics for the panel ranged from plans for the fire service to the role small businesses will have in deciding on plans for the next round of European funding aid, so-called convergence funding.

Stephen said: "Objective One has helped Cornwall transform opportunities for young business people over the last 7 years, and it is vital that the next round of convergence funding builds on that success. Small businesses, those employing five or fewer people, and the self-employed, are the real engine of the local economy and it's important that they are involved in the process of deciding what projects are invested in."

Stephen added: "Too often the public sector's idea of consultation is death by power-point in a cold church hall late in the evening with a soggy pasty. To properly engage with smaller businesses we need to see an innovative use of technology, like web based surveys, and a real effort to reach out beyond the usual suspects."

The Hub was launched in January 2003 and now has over 700 members from the business community across Cornwall, making it the fastest growing business network in the South West.