We need to ensure we have policies that appeal to those in the private sector

As I sat in a Progress fringe on employability on Saturday and listened to the contributions, it struck me that I was perhaps the only employer (or even representative from the private sector) present. This was not that surprising as the panel to discuss this issue was made up of a charity executive, an MP, a councillor, a union boss and a think tank director. If Labour is serious about creating jobs, it has to recognise that those who will create jobs over the long term will be employers in the private sector and it is vital that Labour does its best to engage them.

This means engaging not just employers, both large and small, but also those private sector workers who form part of the backbone of the Party through their involvement with trade unions.

I believe that we are in danger of overlooking the concerns of those in the private sector and instead Labour is focusing its attention where it is comfortable in the public and not-for-profit sector. Yet if we are to be elected into Government after only one term in Opposition it is vital that Labour appeals to a wide selection of the electorate and wins the argument with not just those paid from the public purse but in particular the millions of people now employed in small companies and the major corporates.

Indeed it is my belief that part of the Conservative strategy is to present this election as a battle between the public and private sectors. With the Conservatives claiming to speak for the wealth creators and Labour painted as only concerned with increased spending. This is not the case and we must do much to stop such a simplistic portrayal.

So what can Labour do?

Firstly I think, particularly at this stage of the electoral process, that we need to ensure that we have policies that appeal to those in the private sector.

For employers, we need to express how we can reduce the costs and bureaucracy of employing people without allowing the workforce to be exploited. We need to look at Government contracts and simplify them so more of the private sector can participate in the tender process, which at present is wasteful and unfocused. And we have to ask ourselves how we believe entrepreneurial risk should be rewarded whilst addressing the issue of excessive executive pay.

I certainly do not have all the answers and I am not sure the Labour Party does either but it is important that we talk to business people and involve them fully in our policy making process if we are to identify policies that work. Too often we will wheel out an academic who has never had to address many of the issues that employers face to tell them what to do, if we are to have an authentic business voice then we need to listen to people who have tackled business issues.

So here are three thoughts to leave you with:

• Labour needs to reach out and positively encourage private sector representatives to stand on Parliamentary shortlists in order to widen the franchise of where our candidates come from. Recently I was shocked to hear that on a future candidates training day, out of the thirty people attending not one of them came from the private sector.
• At conference provide speaking slots for employers and private sector workers to tell us what they see as the issues that most need tackling and how Labour can address them. Instead of banning all business to the fringes and party fundraising events.
• Finally, perhaps we need to admit that profit is not a dirty word, but in the vast majority of cases the outcome of a company doing something right.

If there are as Ed said in 2011, good companies and bad companies then let us hear from those business leaders of the good companies and not just cede the private sector to the Tories.

Cllr Mark Glover is Chief Executive of Bellenden, a medium sized public affairs agency working predominantly with private sector clients, and is also Chair of Southwark Labour Group