31/03/2009

Single Government 'Solution For Business' To Help Companies Succeed

The Government has today delivered on its promise to provide a simplified framework for publicly funded support for businesses.

The Department for Business has announced that the design and rollout of Solutions for Business, its streamlined portfolio of business support products, is complete with over 3,000 schemes reduced to an opening 30. For the first time all government help for business now shares an easily identifiable banner and can be accessed mainly via Business Link. From March 2010 these will be the only products businesses will see.

Solutions for Business will make it easier for companies, small and large, new and existing, to find the right products to help them with common business issues such as getting started, growing, finance, export, skills, innovation and the environment.

To conclude the rollout nine products join the portfolio today, and from 1st April, Train to Gain and Business Link brokers will come together in a new service under the Business Link brand to offer advice on skills, reinforcing Business Link's role as the main route to government support.

High quality business support, directed to where it will have most impact to help businesses start, grow and succeed, is an essential weapon in the government's fight back to economic health. It is estimated tighter targeting of schemes will collectively add up to £1.4bn per year of value for businesses. Rationalisation of support schemes will ensure effective use of taxpayers' money and help businesses start, grow and succeed.

Minister for Business, Ian Pearson said: "To succeed in a competitive global environment UK businesses need ongoing access to help and support. The streamlined Solutions for Business portfolio makes it simpler for businesses to access the help they need, providing long term, sustainable, support to business."

(JM/BMcC)

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