The CBI has urged the UK government to tackle regulation that prevents private and family-owned businesses from creating jobs and growing their businesses.

In a new report the CBI proposes:

• speeding up the tribunals system
• providing clear guidance in the absence of a default retirement age
• introducing the right to an annual review of flexible working and to agree a return date with an employee going on maternity leave.

CBI director-general John Cridland says: “Smaller firms are job-creation dynamos. The government must think small first by tackling regulation, which distracts them from growing the business and creating jobs.

“The size and nature of these firms makes them strong advocates of flexible and family-friendly working, and the government should build on this success.

“An annual review on flexible working would ensure that competing requests could be managed fairly, while agreeing a return date with employees going on maternity leave in advance would help firms plan for the future.”