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Business Link ‘needs change of remit’

Sep 18 2007

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) has called for Government advice body Business Link to be marketed better and its remit to be changed considerably.

Professor Robin Jarvis, head of ACCA’s small business unit, says: ‘Low awareness rates of Business Link’s work, the lack of relevance to small businesses of support services and a complex and schizophrenic SME support structure are preventing businesses from getting the support they need and deserve.

‘ACCA wants the Government to analyse carefully whether Business Link should continue to offer such specialist services, which are currently more effectively provided by the private sector.’

This is especially important given the low take-up of Business Link’s services – even the Government’s own annual survey from two years ago showed that only one per cent of SMEs sought advice or information from Business Link when starting up or taking over a business.

To create a stable and lasting legacy, ACCA says Business Link must be managed more effectively by Government and this must involve regular consultation with private sector intermediaries.

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