The government should make sure small firms benefit from a fuel poverty package, according to one expert.
Marc Shoffman, spokesperson for the Federation of Small Businesses, believes that as SMEs are similar to domestic users they too should be offered help with rising fuel costs.
He said: "We did a survey of 9,000 of our members in June and around 80 per cent said that a rise in fuel and energy costs would make it difficult for them to expand in the next year."
Mr Shoffman added that 40 per cent of firms suspected they would have to lay off staff over the course of the next 12 months.
For this reason, there should be extra help for firms struggling to meet the cost of increasing gas and electricity prices, he stated.
Meanwhile, the Forum of Private Business has called on the government to set an example by making sure it pays suppliers on time.
