40.
asked the Paymaster General what steps he is taking to encourage marketing expertise in the small firms sector.
In conjunction with Business in the Community, I am initiating a marketing week for small firms in 1987. The week will start on 8 June and stimulate a wide range of locally-based events with a marketing flavour. In addition, a series of seminars on marketing aimed at the small firms sector will be launched in marketing week. The seminars will be organised by the Institute of Marketing and sponsored by the Department of Employment, the Manpower Services Commission and Lloyds Bank.
The Government operate a wide range of schemes to encourage marketing expertise in the small firms sector, including the Department of Trade and Industry's support for marketing scheme which offers subsidised marketing consultancy to small and medium-sized firms in both the manufacturing and service sectors.