Biz Support without Business Link? 

Our weekly Swindon business advice column with Gail Gibson

 

Will another one bite the dust in this current cycle of public sector cuts in the UK? The potential victim: Business Link - a vital connection for so many start up and growing businesses across the country. Where will business people go for help, advice and support?

 

Business Link established itself as the one stop shop for all things business, from start up advice, through tax and financial help, to how to market your business, and so much more. All of its services of very high value for any budding or successful entrepreneur. A wealth of advice, help and support in ONE place. One central place to access; online or offline (based at national centres around the UK), but more importantly the provision of face to face advice. Reports suggest that a majority of online services will remain however where does that leave the ingredient of human interaction?

 

Local business enterprise partnerships or independent business groups will need to come forward to replace this critical link. Bringing together collaborations of associate professionals, on a region by region basis, to cover all aspects of business could be introduced. These groups could facilitate workshops and skills training under one roof, providing valuable insight and expertise to help rejuvenate and grow the small business sector.

 

Both face to face and social online networking has the potential to open up vast opportunities for all stages of business development. Because networking attracts individuals from all professions and sizes of business, this could be seen a one of the largest areas for growth for business support and advice. Think about the unlimited possibilities for business that Twitter and Facebook could bring your business? Connecting with likeminded people and prospective customers over the internet is fast becoming the most effective way to do business and gain knowledge and advice.

 

Face to face networking brings you into personal contact with others. This style of networking is necessary for many individuals, particularly sole traders who rely on human interaction to be inspired, and to gain knowledge and develop skills. Knowing you can talk to someone about the challenges you face and the successes you achieve are important elements of networking.

 

Does this indicate that the demise of Business Link will not be so detrimental to new and established businesses? There is the potential to provide this valuable range of professional services in other ways, either online or offline. What then is in store for biz support in the future?

 

Written by Gail Gibson of True Expressions
Discovery, Change, Transformation