Yorkshire Forward urges firms to access help

BUSINESSES across the region are being encouraged to make the most of the business support available to them – particularly in terms of gaining funding.

Regional development agency Yorkshire Forward has launched the ‘when the going gets tough’ campaign to raise awareness of the support that is available through the region’s Business Link service, which was re-launched earlier this year.

The campaign will run until the end of January 2009 and is urging businesses to contact Business Link Yorkshire to find out how its support services could help them.

Business Link Yorkshire provides free, impartial advice to budding entrepreneurs and existing companies on various aspects of business growth; including ways they can develop their workforce skills, access new markets and new sources of finance,

Simon Hill, executive director for business development at Yorkshire Forward, said: “There is no question that it is a difficult time out there at the moment but there is no benefit in being defeatist or hiding away – life has to go on. This region has a strong economy built on excellent businesses and we will come through this current period of difficulty. What we want to do with this campaign is remind people that there is a huge amount of support and expertise on offer to Yorkshire and Humber businesses that could help them stay on track and come out of the current downturn even stronger.

“The new Business Link Yorkshire service is built on the principle of providing businesses with first class, impartial advice and support in the key areas that will help them to achieve maximum growth. This is a useful resource at any time, but is even more vital at the moment and so we want to promote it as widely as we can.”