The government says UK small businesses could save up to £10,000 each a year by adopting a raft of government measures available to them.

Speaking at a conference by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) David Cameron outlined the list of measures, which included £1.1 billion-worth of business rate relief and the removal of more than 3,000 regulations.

The prime minister also announced a £30 million programme of ‘growth vouchers’, designed to provide 20,000 businesses with coaching on hiring, financial management and marketing.

Small firms will also benefit from a broadband voucher scheme, a £2,000 cut in national insurance for first-time employers and the postponed rise in fuel duty.

Also speaking at the event, business secretary Vince Cable said: “"We are also tackling late payment, which affects so many small firms that still have to wait too long for cash to flow through to them.”