Business Link: helping region’s businesses through the economic downturn

Businesses in the South West are increasingly seeking advice on cash flow management and effectively planning their way through the economic downturn, according to figures from Business Link and survey evidence from the South West RDA.

More than 900 businesses in the region have received intensive, one-to-one help from Business Link advisers since the end of October 2008 , with more than three-quarters of these being firms with nine employees or less and many thousands more businesses have accessed essential information online at www.businesslinksw.co.uk

Top of the agenda has been the issue of cash flow and late payments, which is now becoming critical to many small businesses. This is followed by requests for advice on spreading risk associated with over-reliance on a one major customer and then effective business and staff planning. The South West RDA is playing a key role in co-ordinating and managing a diverse range of support for more than 418,000 businesses in the region, with much of the work on the front line being done through its delivery partner, Business Link, which is funded by the Agency.