Would you miss Business Link if it was axed?
Apparently the Tories are considering axing Business Link if they win the next election. "We believe that regional Business Links are failing in their task," Prisk told the Sunday Times as he outlined the Tories' small business policy. "Many surveys show that only a small proportion of businesses use them and those that do are dissatisfied with the service they receive."
Would you miss Business Link if it was axed?
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Many small businesses are unaware of what is available - perhaps instead of getting rid of organisations like Business Link government could do more to publicise, perhaps on the many communications from HMRC, Companies House etc.
You might be right Leslie, I don't suppose I could list the kind of things Business Link do. It would be interesting to learn just how the Tories think they're failing in their task. If it is just a case of marketing the service more effectively then that would seem a poor reason to cull it.
I wouldn't miss it if it was axed. I have an occasional meeting with my rep from Business Link but, to be honest, nothing ever worthwhile comes out of it. Next time he called to arrange an appointment, I was planning on telling him I was too busy.
Paul
What a shame you don't get any value from your interactions with Business Link Paul, but rather than saying you're too busy, why not tell them that its an issue? Your BL rep needs to be made aware that the relationship simply isn't returning anything for you!
We have a productive working relationship with Business Link, and work with them to address skills issues for companies in the Devon and Cornwall area, but many FE Colleges - ours included - offer a similar support mechanism direct to employers, aimed at helping them to see training as part of the solution to their business issues.
I guess for me, the bigger question is, if the Government continues to fund Business Link and FE Colleges to offer this kind of service surely they're ignoring the whole "simplification" agenda that seems to be all-consuming at the moment?
small business are not well educated about the resources available to them and basicly blame the government for economic factor affecting their business.
seyi
I am having my first marketing training with BL next month. I will post a feedback regarding my experience
sand
That would be good Sand. Be our secret shopper and report back.
hope to hear the fit of your training
Directgov is the one portal for the community to connect with government and Business Link is the one portal for the business community to connect with all government departments on all information relevant to businesses. For instance, there was a digest of the budget for businesses on the Business Link web site the same afternoon of the Budget - beating the larger accountancy firms to what is their traditional race on Budget Day. Business Link can also give you the programme of new or changed employment legislation planned for the next 12 months - like most of the larger employment law solicitors.
Most of what Business Link does promotes government action or support for business, is paid for by the tax payer and a lot of it is already being done by the private sector business support industry - for a fee. So doing away with Business Link would be inconvenient with regard to businesses no longer having a single portal for access to public sector business support and advice, but would save a lot of money for the government and give a boost to the business support sector of the economy.
KSO.
There's an interesting piece here on eConsultancy about some of the axed websites.
http://econsultancy.com/blog/6143-business-link-website-costs-2-15-per-visit
They provide a rather damning report on the Business Link website, including the fact that it cost £2.15 for each visitor to the site.
That is interesting, especially as the average cost per visit is something like 20p for government sites. Of course cost per visit is a pretty blunt instrument to measure value but I suppose it does reflect pretty accurately the value people perceive in an information site like Business Link.
As an ex business link mentor I have a little inside info. When its good its very good - when its not it is hopeless.
There have always been weakensses in the model. Its cost could never fund enough resources to really make a difference. They could never get enough financial leverage in increased taxation from higher performing business to fund their cost. despite lots of fudged figures.
The resources ranged from school leavers to ex entrepreneurs to deliver the front line services. very hit & miss.
Publicity was always poor
The majority of SME's are lifestyle businesses that have no desire to really grow and take peole off the dole! So BL help not needed.
Govt "knows best" interference has now moved BL so far from its orginal remit that it is doomed to fail.
Despite all my colleagues working their butt off the help SME's they could never reach a critical mass and so increasing criticism built up from SME's and the private support network that saw them as a real threat.
BL is now past its sell by date and needs to be killed off - much to my disappointment.
RIP business link
We think this will have a profound impact to local businesses and also to international trade coming into the area. We'll be featuring this in our show "The Business Hub" this Sunday. Please let us know how these changes will be affecting your business and we'll try to include your comments in the show: http://cot.ag/9rhGTm
Thank you
Ian
Hello all,
My experience regarding the BL training I attended some time ago was mostly based on theories, talk! talk!! talk!!! although most of the facilitators at the event were good, at giving a generic view of starting a business. There was no session for one- to- one discussion or advise.
I went away with 2 books and nothing more. I had to read and carry out my personal research through their website which prove to be much more helpful than going to the training event that was way out of town and spent so much money on transport to attend.
My submission is BL should not be killed or axed, because it presents a platform for most people especially those that are confused about starting their own business after years of paid employment.
Secondly, It also helps fresh graduates to start up a business, although, one may ask, but there are other agencies offering the same services, yes- but they are not always there either and have very little or no on line resources.
Thirdly, BL should review their strategy in meeting the needs of SME's, they should make their model/strategy more personal based.... and regularly update their on-line resources.
Finally, I will miss BL if axed!!
The original BL was never intended to help startups. This is where its strategy, fight for funding and Govt pressure set it off on its terminal path. There were and still are orgaisations that are better placed to support start-ups. The advisor/mentors were all recruited to help businesses that had matured to the point where they had 5-10 staff. the skill,and experience set are very different for start ups.
There was a much better chance of leveraging a better ROI on the govt's funding of BL with bigger and more established businesses. BL was never intended to help one man bands!
Interesting piece here in the FT about how private companies are filling the space left by Business Link.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a40b18ba-8a94-11df-bd2e-00144feab49a.html?ftcamp=rss
The FT article is a bit of a non news item. The private sector has never been able to support the sme sector in the way BL was expected to, as they cannot afford the private sector costs. (Thats why BL was govt funded)
Whislt there may be lots of huff and puff about the private sector stepping in - they have never been able to during BL's 10 yr + lifetime - so why should they now?
Too many of the sme sector want things for free - then complain about the quality. The private sector will be very selective in whom it helps - the ones that can pay!
This is not a bad thing, as at least 50% of all start-ups fail within 2 years and why should the tax payer fund the no hopers that rely on govt support for 2 years.
In your experience Francis, what kind of support do SME's look for?
Hi Adi
You are asking how long is a piece of string?
As one would expect sme's come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and whilst their issues may be generic, the solution is usually a mixed prescription to match the style of the organisation/boss and wider issues that have usually created the situation.
Some just need a prod in the right direction others need their hand holding all the way. Hence the mentoring role.
Working capital was usually amongst the top issues, along with growth. but the solution behind these ranged from credit control, terms & conditions, re-branding, marketing, selling skills, underperforming staff etc etc.
I must confess I never sat back and statistically analysed the issues/support we provided. I just took eack business as it came.
I am very much a hands on person - my knowledge and experience came from the university of the world, its a very good teacher.
Sorry I cannot be more specific.
Hi Francis,
Yes, I imagine it is a very broad mixture of things. Obviously we have a mixture of resources here, I suppose I was just wondering how likely it is that the services offered by BusinessLink can/will be picked up by other organisations, be they public, private or non-profit.
Adi
Adi
When you refer to "resources here" where do you mean?
Things like the legal and HR documents, the management checklists, the support community here and so on. I think they can probably all help SMEs, so I was just wondering the kind of things SMEs were really looking for and whether we can fill the gap or whether a collection of organisations are required.
I have used the cmi checklists with the clients I worked with. I also used the reading list service.
The problem is reaching the sme's so they know what is available.
I am sure someone will take over the BL website - Which I think is very good - certainly in relation to what used to be.
ACAS also have a lot of stuff.
This was part of our remit - to pull together resources from all over the place to help the business.
Everthing still remains so widely dispersed that sme's can't be bothered.
Past reseach has shown that their first port of call is the accountant, perhaps it is these people that you should try and reach, rather than the sme's direct.
I have never understood why sme's go to their accountants as they rarely have the expertise to deal with core business management issues.