Councils have a significant role to play in assisting the growth of small business insurance customers, it has been suggested.

John Cridland, director general of the Confederation of British Industry - which speaks for around 240,000 organisations that employ a third of the workforce in the private sector - noted local authorities and companies should work together in order to enable such expansion to take place.

In his speech to the Local Government Association Annual Conference, Mr Cridland observed local governments need to get involved in assisting the way in which the UK is able to attract investment and deliver jobs.

By doing so, councils can also help create further prosperity for organisations in their areas, while also playing a key role in the development of a shared identity.

Mr Cridland stated: "Councils have plenty of initiatives to support local employment, but often these aren't joined up with the Work Programme – they need to be."