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Business Support Simplification Programme

Simplifying Business Support

Simplifying government support for businesses is about better service for customers through a coherent, coordinated and consistent approach. The Business Support Simplification Programme has set out how this ambition will be reached by 2010.

Background

Budget 2006 announced that 3,000 schemes would be reduced to 100 or less by 2010, while the Pre-Budget Report 2007 announced that Business Link would become the primary access route for individuals and businesses seeking support.

In March 2008 the government published Simple Support, Better Business: business support in 2010, its vision for streamlined support as part of its Enterprise Strategy. Budget 2008 also announced a timeline for the transfer of brokerage services to Business Link.

In October 2008, the government announced the resultant Solutions for Business products whilst PBR 2008 set March 2010 as the date by which all non-compliant schemes will be closed or scheduled to close.

Shared design and delivery

To ensure consistency, Solutions for Business has been developed under a shared framework agreed by central, regional, local government and the business community. This covers design, procurement, marketing and branding, evaluation and measurement.

A Transition Management Board has been put in place to ensure Solutions for Business products and their delivery remain simple, fit-for-purpose and lean.

Business Link as the first port of call

Business Link is the first port of call for information and introduction to specialist expertise from the private, public and voluntary sectors. Any business or individual contacting Business Link for advice – be it via phone, face-to-face or web – will receive personalised, targeted, useful support.

Business Link will refer customers to Solutions for Business products as appropriate alongside products from the private and third sectors.