Originally written by Anna Jordan on Small Business
Paul Uppal has left his role as Small Business Commissioner due to a conflict of interest.
According to The Times, Uppal was told that the business department felt his involvement in establishing a bank redress scheme was a conflict of interest. The department indicated that his departure was not related to performance but to an unspecified breach of terms of his appointment.
Uppal has been helping the banking industry and small business groups to set up the business banking resolution service. The aim of the service is to help SMEs with unresolved complaints to get an independent view of their dispute.
He stepped down on the evening of Friday 11 October.
Getting more powers to help small businesses
The role of Small Business Commissioner was established in 2016 as a mediator of payment disputes between small and large companies. Since taking the position, Uppal has introduced a practice of naming and shaming companies that treat suppliers poorly. He was also going to be given powers to fine companies guilty of late payment and force them to deal with him directly, as well as taking over the running of the Prompt Payment Code.
Mike Cherry, the chairman of the Federation