What they are saying about Solutions for Business
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The following statements were made after the then Secretary of State for Business announced the Solutions for Business package at the Northern Regeneration and Renewal Summit on the 23rd October 2008: |
Martin Temple, Chair of the BSSP Transitional Management Board
“For far too long, help which has been available to business has not been taken up because it has been too complex, confusing to understand and access in a timely manner. In addition, the quality and content of the offering was inappropriate, as well as being complicated and expensive to administer. This programme will simplify access, make clear what is available and improve the quality in order to match business needs. As a consequence, government support for business will make a greater contribution to economic growth at a regional and national level and provide better value for money for the taxpayer. However, the sheer scale of transition from the current plethora of schemes will take time to be introduced but the benefits of the new system will become apparent within eighteen months.”
John Cridland, CBI Deputy Director-General
“Once fully implemented, the simplified portfolio should mean small and growing businesses will find it much easier to understand the support on offer from government. Together with improvements to Business Link, the delivery of the portfolio comes at a time of tough trading conditions when, more than ever, businesses need access to high quality, independent advice and support to boost their chances of survival and growth.”
Phil Orford, Chief Executive, Forum of Private Business
“The Forum of Private Business (FPB) welcomes the announcement that the Government's Business Support Simplification Programme team have been able to meet - and exceed - their target for a simplification of business support delivery mechanisms. As a small-business membership organisation, we believe that a simplified structure for business support will make it easier for business-owners to find the right help at the right time. The FPB acknowledges that, over the last three years, a great deal of work - at every level of government - has gone into this programme. We hope this transfers to an effective and smooth roll-out of the changes. Even more importantly, the FPB and our fellow small-business representative organisations need to take an active role in ensuring the Government's support from now on remains focused and relevant to the needs of small businesses - our members.”
David Frost, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce
“We are pleased that the Government has today set out the national package of business support products that will be available for companies to access from March next year. There can be no doubt of the need for simplification of the current landscape of too many competing schemes, which firms find complex and confusing. As companies face more difficult times, a simpler framework for the advice, loans and grants that are available to them will be of great benefit to our economy.”
Steve Radley, Chief Economist, EEF
“The government was right to take an axe to the current confused and cluttered system of business support which was neither aiding business nor providing value for money for the taxpayer. The new programme of consolidation should not only be far simpler for companies to understand and access but, in time should improve the quality of service and advice. The key now, as with all such reforms, is to ensure delivery so that business can see clear, practical benefits.”
David Parlby, Chief Executive Officer, Plymouth Chamber of Commerce & Industry
“The Plymouth Chamber of Commerce welcomes the initiative to reduce the number of business support products as this will help considerably in streamlining and simplifying the access to support that SMEs require. We believe that simple and effective communication of the new arrangements will be key in maximising the benefits of the initiative. We also look forward to a robust process being put in place to ensure that the number of support products does not gradually increase over time.”
George Derbyshire, Chief Executive, National Federation of Enterprise Agencies
“It is good news that the design phase of BSSP has now been completed and the future landscape of business support is clearer. 'Solutions for Business' promises to be a strong brand and we look forward to working closely with Business Link, RDAs and local authorities as delivery plans take shape.”
Ian Dormer, Chairman of the North East Transition Management Board and Managing Director of County Durham-based Rosh Engineering
“We are committed to simplifying a complex business support picture in the region, to put in place a more effective package of support that better meets business needs. Publicly funded support provides businesses with incentives to invest in their performance and growth. Making this support more efficient, easier to access and understand will drive businesses on to better performance. That’s why, as a business owner in the region, I am pleased to lead our Transition Board.”
Sandra Cartlidge, Head of Economic and Community Regeneration at Middlesbrough Council
“We are streamlining the support we fund by working with partners such as Stockton Council and Business Link to provide access to tailored brokerage and business solutions for our local firms. This practical approach makes it less confusing for customers while making sure we meet the specific needs of Middlesbrough’s businesses and entrepreneurs – a positive example of simplification in action.”
Helen West, Chief Executive at Business Link Yorkshire
“In the past businesses highlighted their confusion over what publicly funded support there was available to them. As the primary access route for business support in the region, Business Link Yorkshire makes it easier for businesses and entrepreneurs to understand and access all sources of support available – including government funded grants, subsidies and advice. Our advisers meet one to one with our customers and broker in relevant support from specialist providers at the most appropriate time to help start and grow their businesses. The launch of the BSSP product portfolio will ensure that it is even easier for businesses to understand what support is available to them, whether funded nationally, regionally or locally. This is a very positive development and will provide clarity to a once complex marketplace.”
Sharon Pickering, Director of the Regional Skills Partnership
“The Regional Skills Partnership (RSP) is fully supportive and directly involved in Business Support Simplification in Yorkshire and the Humber. The partners involved in the RSP see this approach as one way of placing business and employers in the driving seat of developing business support services that really meet their needs and help them to have more successful and productive businesses.”
