Steve Bratt, group CEO of the Electrical Contractors' Association (ECA), has welcomed the government's announcement Lord Young will be taking on the role of enterprise advisor.
Bratt said: "The appointment of Lord Young to the role of enterprise advisor is a very positive example of the government's commitment to helping support SMEs through these challenging times.
"SMEs form the backbone of our country's economy. In the electrical contracting sector alone, they constitute 85% of businesses, therefore a dedicated voice and presence on the political scene is very welcome.
"During this recession, access to credit has been a major stumbling block for SMEs in all sectors. To ensure the survival of these businesses, which contribute significantly to the wellbeing of our economy, I would urge Lord Young, as a matter of urgency, to look at making lines of credit more readily available. I also hope that he will work with SMEs to help them not only to survive these difficult times, but to grow and prosper."