What’s the future for Small Business Advice?

Small businesses used to be able to get free business advice from Business Link but it seems it wont be around for very much longer..

Mark Prisk (business and enterprise minister) said the network, subject to speculation about its future for several weeks, is to be shut down due to the amount of money spent on telling entrepreneurs where to get advice.

“The regional Business Links have spent too much time signposting and not enough time actually advising,” the MP told Real Business. “We’re going to wind down the Regional Development Agencies, and as part of those, we’ll be winding down the regional Business Link contracts.”

Prisk said the service, which operates throughout England, will be replaced by a state-funded online platform plus greater use of the private sector. As well as being available via desktops, the new internet offering will be accessible on mobile phones and supported by a call centre.

Business Link’s closure is part of the government’s decision, announced in the Emergency Budget, to abolish England’s nine Regional Development Agencies and replace them with Local Enterprise Partnerships between local authorities, chambers of commerce and private companies. The change is due to be completed by March 2012.

About the author. Extract from an interview with Real Business www.realbusiness.co.uk

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