The Small Business Commissioner has recruited two new experienced members for her Advisory Board:
- Abigail Whittaker, Funding Circle
- Ryan Shorthouse, Bright Blue
The new members will provide expert advice and support ahead of potential new powers.
Abigail Whittaker and Ryan Shorthouse will join the Advisory Board of the Office of the Small Business Commissioner (OSBC) in April following a public appointment process. As advisors they will work with the Small Business Commissioner, Emma Jones, and her dedicated team to provide expert advice on all aspects of her office’s operation, including the Fair Payment Code, its advice and support service and governance. The appointments bring a wealth of experience at a critical time as the Commissioner prepares for potential new powers that the Government has recently consulted on.
Abigail Whittaker has a distinguished background in communications. Abigail is a key member of Funding Circle’s leadership team as Chief of Staff, where she is responsible for communications and corporate affairs across their core audiences. Previously Abigail was Chief of Staff at Vanquis Banking Group, Head of External Communications at Metro Bank and ran the Chief Executive’s office at TSB. Her knowledge of communications and AI will be hugely valuable as the SBC promotes the potential of digital tools for tackling payment challenges.
Ryan Shorthouse is the Founder and Executive Chair of the independent think tank Bright Blue bringing extensive experience in UK policy. Ryan was appointed a Commissioner of the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). He is a Visiting Fellow at the University of Bath. He is also Deputy Chair of the What Works Centre, Transforming Access and Student Outcomes in Higher Education (TASO) and was previously a trustee for the Early Intervention Foundation (2017-2023), Young Women’s Trust (2014-2019) and the Daycare Trust (2010-2015). Ryan’s understanding of policy will be critical as the SBC strives to deliver on the Government priority of tackling late and long payment times.
The Small Business Commissioner (SBC) is an independent public body established by Government under the Enterprise Act 2016 to tackle overdue payments and unfavourable payment practices in the private sector.
The Commissioner supports small businesses to get paid quickly and on time, influences large businesses to improve payment times to suppliers and works with all businesses to raise payment practice standards across the UK.
The UK Government has recently consulted on new powers for the SBC alongside a series of other measures to tackle late payments as announced in the Small Business Plan.
With late payments costing the UK economy £11 billion a year and leading to the closure of 38 businesses a day, the issue is as urgent as ever. These roles will advise and guide the Small Business Commissioner on her mission to free up businesses’ time spent chasing invoices, get money moving and grow the UK economy.
Abigail Whittaker said:
“I’m incredibly excited to have the opportunity to work with Emma and the team at the OSBC. Through my work at Funding Circle, I see every day the impact small businesses have on our economy and communities, and also the pressures they face. The OSBC plays a vital role in standing up for SMEs and the Fair Payment Code is a brilliant example of how all companies can turn good intentions into real action that makes all the difference for SMEs. I’m looking forward to supporting the team as we push this agenda forward and help fuel even more SME success stories.”
Ryan Shorthouse said:
“As someone who has run a small business for over a decade, I know exactly how stressful and crippling late payments can be. That’s why I’m delighted to now work with the Small Business Commissioner and businesses of all sizes to develop and promote practical, innovative solutions that improve payment culture in this country. Making money move more quickly through our economy is, I believe, an underappreciated and fundamental way of improving investment and productivity, ultimately leading to higher growth that benefits everyone.”
Emma Jones, Small Business Commissioner, said:
“I am delighted that people of the calibre of Ryan and Abigail applied to join us on our mission to make life easier for small firms by getting money moving through the economy. They bring to the advisor role deep experience of running businesses, national media & communications savvy, plus digital know-how for effective working as well as looking at how tech can be leveraged to speed up payments. It is an exciting time for them to be joining the Office and the team and I very much look forward to benefiting from their wisdom and input.”
Board Advisers are required to attend quarterly board meetings and undertake additional activity with a total commitment of one day per quarter. Board members are remunerated £350 per day. Board Advisors are expected to serve a three year term.