Easier access to advice

Radically simplifying the number of business support schemes from 3,000-plus to well under 100 is at the centre of new proposals to help small businesses announced by Small Business Minister Margaret Hodge.

The proposals will address the wide concern among small firms that frequently tell Government they are confused by the number of support schemes available. The slimdown would mean that, over time, the cost of providing help to run a business would drop, freeing resources to be targeted at helping businesses more.

Says Margaret Hodge: “We want to take some of the hassle out of getting help to run a business. By cutting down the number of support schemes without cutting the amount of support, we believe we can do that.

“Simpler, easier to use and understand support, while cutting back on unnecessary duplication - it’s simple commonsense for both business and the tax payer.”

Under the proposals, the Government’s small business information and advice service, Business Link, would be the first port of call for all of Government’s business support.