At the Labour Party conference in Manchester I attended a number of events that focused on self-employment and the challenges and opportunities it presents for individuals and the British economy.

I think for politicians and policy makers this discussion is long overdue. The Office of National Statistics tells us that 4.6 million people in the UK are self-employed, and this is rising at a faster rate than those employed in a 'traditional' way. Hounslow is no exception to this trend, with 16.5% of the borough population in self-employment, we are above the national average.

Our local economy, outside of major employers like Heathrow Airport, is reliant on small businesses many of whom would be classed as self-employed. From plumbers and mechanics to shop-owners and newer home-based or online businesses, we all know somebody who is self-employed. From my own background my father and mother ran their own shop when we were growing up, and I was a self-employed consultant before I became an MP, so I understand the pressures.

The growth of this sector presents a number of challenges for our economy and the people who employ themselves. Issues like pension provision, maternity and sick leave, lack of networks and social isolation, reduced incomes compared to salaried work, late payment of invoices; these are themes that come up again and again when you speak to people in self-employment. I believe government can and should do more to support those taking the leap into entrepreneurship and self-employment.

Ed Miliband has put the issue of the self-employed at the front of our business and equality strategy. In his speech at the Labour Party Conference he said: "Often the most entrepreneurial, go-getting people in Britain who have a hard, insecure life very often. You see, because of the job they do, two out of three don’t have a pension. One in five can’t get a mortgage. They don’t want special treatment. They just want a fair shot. The task for this Labour Party… is to fight and deliver equal rights for the self-employed in Britain."

Given that so many of our greatest businesses and innovators started out by taking a chance on an idea, the greater the support mechanisms we can give to these pioneers the better. One of the bedrocks of an entrepreneurial society is access to finance. Labour and our Shadow Business Secretary Chuka Ummuna have committed to helping create a series of regional banks who would be better able to understand the needs of businesses in a given area and base lending decisions on actual relationships with local people.

In its Agenda 2030 plan the Labour business team has set out a bold vision for supporting industry and business in Britain, including those in self-employment, by cutting red tape, reducing business costs such as energy bills and business rates and giving regions and Local Enterprise Partnerships the powers and budgets they need to boost local growth. These actions would be timely shot in the arm for small business led by men and women across the UK, London and the Borough of Hounslow.