Cable sets out Business Link wind-down

REGIONAL Business Link advice services will be closed by the end of the year as the Government overhauls state-funded business support.

Ministers have fleshed out plans to replace the current network of regional business link services with an improved national website supported by a call centre.

Almost 150 staff at Business Link West Midlands were served with redundancy notices prior to Christmas and more are expected as the year progresses.

The Government’s document “Bigger, better business: helping small firms start, grow and prosper” also includes a timeline for the reforms which will see regional services closed in November.

The coalition has also now promised its new “enterprise allowance” to help the unemployed start their own businesses will help 40,000 people, twice as many as previously suggested.

Business Secretary Vince Cable had pledged to create a network of business mentors and “Bigger, better business” sets out a list of more than 20 organisations that will take part in the scheme including the CBI, British Chambers of Commerce and the Institute of Directors.

Business and Enterprise Minister Mark Prisk said: “In the current economic climate, it has never been more important to promote an enterprise culture in the UK. It is vital that businesses have the information, advice, and mentoring they need to grow and expand.

“The best people to advise small businesses are those who have already started and run successful companies, so it is particularly important that this new framework for helping businesses to improve focuses on providing access to business mentors.”

The Government failed to offer any further detail on its plans for the Manufacturing Advisory Service other than to promise it will be “locally focused on the needs of individual businesses” and would be available from April 2012 following consultation on reforms with interested parties.