A year ago Peter Mandelson offered all trading businesses a free ‘health check’ with a professional, qualified and impartial Business Link Adviser. Since then, over 3,800 small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight have taken up the offer. Have you had yours?
Using Business Link support means that businesses are more likely to expect future growth. 55% of business owners who are customers of the government funded advice and support service are expecting to grow in the next 12 months, compared with only 34% of non Business Link customers.
With a reported 150 estate agency branches closing every week, one firm that operates across Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire Waterfords has been activating plans to ensure it doesn’t become a credit crunch casualty. Waterfords has survived the current downturn, thanks to its own forward planning and practical support from Business Link.
Managing director Brendan Cox said, ‘Through careful restructuring and a business ‘health check’, we adjusted our business model and although we now employ slightly fewer people, we’ve been able to maintain our branches across six locations.
Across the South East, over 16,000 firms contacted Business Link for help from all sectors. The most prevalent were businesses from the retail, automotive and repair sector (2,500), property and business services (6,000) and manufacturing (1,800).
Business ‘health checks’ can take place in a Business Link office, business premises or partner offices such as local council offices. The meeting allows the business owner time to take an in-depth look at their company operations, and together with a Business Link Adviser they produce a comprehensive business action plan which focuses on practical measures and ideas designed to improve performance.
Business Link is the main route to specialist expertise available by referral, as a result of a business ‘health check’. Much of the help available is funded or subsidised by the government such as advice from Finance South East, training available through Train to Gain or schemes run by the Manufacturing Advisory Service. Business Link also offers a choice of private sector suppliers through its Supplier Matching Service, for example where accountancy, marketing or legal services are required.
Business Link provides information, advice and referrals to sources of training or other business support. To find out how they can help you, or to book a free business ‘health check’, call Business Link on 0845 600 9 006, or go to www.businesslink.gov.uk/southeast.
*South East Business Monitor, 1,200 SMEs surveyed summer 09.
Press enquiries to: Lorraine Lewis 01329 223267 or email lorraine.lewis@businesslinkhampshireiow.co.uk