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Solutions for Business Products

About the products

29 opening products became available to businesses under the Solutions for Business banner between October 2008 and March 2009. By 2010 all government products will either have migrated to the portfolio or closed.

Products can help with accessing finance, innovation, research and development, training and skills, exporting and overseas trade and resource efficiency, including low carbon and will be provided by a range of respected public sector providers such as government departments and their agencies, Regional Development Agencies and Local Authorities.

For a full product list see

Government funded business support (1783KB)

Private and third sector provision will not be affected by the changes and will still be brokered to customers by Business Link alongside Solutions for Business products. Opportunities to amend the range of Solutions for Business products will exist if new business needs are identified or economic circumstances change. For example, Enterprise Finance Guarantee, which helps guarantee bank loans to businesses, became a Solutions for Business product in January 2009.

How were the products decided?

The Government looked at areas where it believed there is a strong case for providing support using the following criteria:

• Rationale – whether there is a market failure in provision or wider social or environmental justification for intervening
• Likely effectiveness – whether an intervention addresses objectives
• Business need – whether there is a genuine demand from business for the type of support offered
• Relevant products were then developed, reviewed and amended, according to whether products were new or existing, around a number of common business themes which were consulted on before the ‘Solutions for Business’ package was finalised.
  

Where can I find out more about the products?

Companies seeking support should go to Business Link where advisors can assess their business needs and refer them to appropriate support products. Its services are free and available to all businesses by phone (0845 600 9006 ), on the web, or face-to-face.