True to his professional calling, the new chairman of the North Lincolnshire and West Lindsey branch of the Federation of Small Businesses is keen to take his members on the road.

Richard Hutchings, of Barnetby-based Abacus Private Hire, is looking for a fair deal for entrepreneurs, while ensuring that he gets around the patch as he succeeds Neil Poole at the helm of the 920-strong branch.

The former mobile crane operator launched his taxi company ten years ago, joining the federation three years later.

And he is keen to be in the driving seat when it comes to supporting the area going forward, having joined for the benefits it can bring to those going it alone.

"The support that exists definitely attracted me to the FSB," he said. "It is nice to have a big brother on side with so many answers to questions you have."

Moving the branch forward and building numbers up are aims, with support for the elderly too on the agenda.

And he is happy to travel. "I am already trying to get around the whole area," said Mr Hutchings.

"I'll be holding branch meetings at different places, inviting the membership to come along. I'm trying to be a breath of fresh air – I'm looking to wake them all up and get people involved."

Well aware of the above average unemployment in the region, Mr Hutchings says he sees renewables and the likely Humber Bridge toll cut as key incentives for northern Lincolnshire going forward.

"The Humber's renewables offer is something that offers a lot of potential for businesses in this area," he said.

"It could lead to a much brighter future. We are looking at how our members can fit into that. I can see so many years of work that can come off on the back of building the wind turbines. It is definitely going to help the employment."

Benefiting from attachment to two Local Enterprise Partnerships is also crucial both in Mr Hutchings' eyes and those of wider Lincolnshire area development manager Michael Self, who has welcomed the new chairman for Scunthorpe, Gainsborough and district.

"It is good to get a change of office," said Mr Self. "It can be very lonely for self-employed businesses.

"As an organisation we can give a lot of help and support. Small businesses need all the help they can get at the moment, and that is particularly true in northern Lincolnshire."

A new campaign has just been launched by the federation with the full support of Mr Hutchings.

Mr Self said: "We are trying to raise the profile of the real life entrepreneurs – people in business for themselves. An entrepreneur is someone who has a good idea, takes a risk and goes into business themselves. They are entrepreneurs. The Government keeps telling us that these are the people who will lift the country out of recession, and we will support these businesses as much as we can. We have got to really do something to help these small business people, not just say the words."