Business Link is changing

Helping businesses start, improve and grow: More and more businesses save time and effort by looking online first for business information and advice. The way Business Link helps businesses is changing too; from 25 November 2011, new services will be available online via the Business Link website: www.businesslink.gov.uk when the regional advisory services close.

About businesslink.gov.uk

• This is the first place to go to access essential information, support and services for your business
• You can access all the necessary government services such as paying your VAT, PAYE or registering a business with Companies House
• By registering online, you can get information and regular updates tailored to the specific needs of your business and industry
• You can search for public sector procurement opportunities using businesslink.gov.uk/contractsfinder
• And there’s a wealth of information and guidance available on regulations which affect your business to ensure you can manage your business risks and stay the right side of the line
• From November 2011, the Business Link website will be updated to provide easy-to-use information to help you start up, improve or grow your business. New features will include:
  • A new growth and improvement service giving you access to the information you need to make your business work better; including tools to help you diagnose and solve business problems, a business support finder, tutorials and video case studies, information on events in your area and links to business discussions and other services.
  • If you are looking to start a business, or know someone who is, a whole new area of the Business Link website will provide a comprehensive start up service including online training and a starting up task list to guide people through the process.

To find out more and keep up-to-date with important business information such as changes to regulations, register with the Business Link website and sign up to their e-newsletter at www.businesslink.gov.uk/mybusiness

Businesses who do well often have outside help. If you think you could benefit from talking to someone with a lot of business experience, you can find a business mentor at www.mentorsme.co.uk

• Mentorsme.co.uk will put you in touch with mentoring organisations across the UKwho can help you find the kind of mentor that suits you
• Plus there’s lots of advice on what to look for in a good mentor
• If you would like to be a mentor and share your wealth of experience with a less experienced business person, the mentoring portal can help you find an organisation which can help

Why have the services changed?

• More and more businesses save time and money using online services to find the information and guidance they need to run their businesses
• We know that businesses who take advice do better, so we are transforming the information and advice available online to make it easier for you to find what you need quickly and from sources you can trust
• This is also the most effective and efficient way for us to provide the information and advice you need
• Businesses have also told us that they most value support and advice from other businesses so we’ve built features into our new services to enable you to find this quickly and effectively
• We’re focussing our support on helping businesses to start up, improve and grow because it’s UK businesses that will drive our economic recovery