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Licensing exists to regulate business activity in order to protect people and animals. From small independent businesses such as taxi drivers and home boarding establishments to large multi-national businesses such as those affected by primary authority partnerships, licensing regulation applies throughout. In fact, there are very few business sectors where licensing regulation is not a relevant factor.
It is therefore not surprising that at the highest level of Government there is a great importance placed on proportionate regulation of businesses - including that of licensing regulation - to ensure that it is not stifling growth and industry.
The importance of licensing's role in protecting people has recently been highlighted in a number of high profile cases where failures to properly regulate licensable business activity caused, in some cases significant harm, to people.
It is important to recognise the role partnership plays in licensing and business; when both parties work well together, it is mutually beneficial. Good partnership between licensing regulators and business allows business to get on with what they do without significant regulatory interference, which in turn reduces the demand on licensing authority resource.
National Licensing Week in an opportunity to celebrate what is positive about regulation and the relationship between licensing and business. There are partners from all sides getting involved with the week and activities that encourage a mutual understanding of each other's worlds through job shares and joint working.
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