Helping businesses start, grow and prosper & wishing you a Merry Christmas

December 2011

9th Edition

Welcome to the Business Improvement Programme Newsletter

The tools to help you start or grow your business

It is nearly Christmas 2011.  Many of you will be taking stock and planning for 2012.  This edition of the newsletter brings you news on developments on Business Coaching for Growth (BCG) and focuses on how we can provide the information you need to start, grow or improve your business.


Appointment of BCG Provider

We are pleased to announce the appointment of the 'Coaching for Growth Consortium' as our preferred bidder to deliver the Business Coaching for Growth programme.   The consortium comprises Grant Thornton, Pera, Oxford Innovation and Winning Pitch along with 7 other key delivery partners together with excellent connections to local support providers right across the country. The service will be delivered on a national basis across England and will be up and running in spring 2012.  Click here for more information.

 

Business Coaching for Growth is a key component in the Government’s plans for an economic recovery led by sustained growth in the private sector.  This appointment represents substantial progress in delivering this programme on time.


New services launched

We have now launched two new online services, our comprehensive start-up service My New Business and the Growth and Improvement Service to give you the information you need to succeed.

Find out more at www.businesslink.gov.uk/newservices

 

Business Minister Mark Prisk said:
“… Business Link’s two new services will give businesses new, easy to use, and tailored online services representing the most effective and efficient way to provide the information and advice business people tell us they need and will help businesses grow."

 

How will these services help you?

They will:-


Get your Finances in Shape

Did you know that?

Many small and medium sized businesses would benefit from help and support in this area. That is why on November 10th, the Prime Minister and Vince Cable launched a Finance Fitness Campaign, which brings together private and public sector information, guidance and advice for SMEs to help them understand and master their cash flow, access a variety of finance sources and improve the proposals they put forward to investors. 

 

Here is a video clip of Philip King sharing his view at the launch of the campaign http://www.bis.gov.uk/policies/enterprise-and-business-support/access-to-finance/finance-fitness

 

For more information on Finance visit: www.improve.businesslink.gov.uk/finance to access finance advice for your company.  

Our next newsletter will provide further details


Get Mentoring

Last month also marked the launch of the new Get Mentoring initiative. The Government has announced investment of £1.9m in Get Mentoring, a new initiative to recruit and train 15,000 volunteer business mentors from the small, medium and micro business community, via the Small Firms Enterprise Development Initiative (SFEDI). With almost 11,000 business mentors already available through www.mentorsme.co.uk, the Get Mentoring project will bring the total number of business mentors available through the mentoring portal to at least 26,000 by September 2012.  There have already been over 1,200 unique visitors to the www.Getmentoring.org   site and over 300 people have signed up for training courses so that they can become mentors and help the next generation of SMEs to grow and prosper. If you want to be part of this growing network of experienced business people, go to getmentoring.org and sign up.


Working hard to make your business a success?

Here are some things you could do over the 12 days of Christmas –  

 

12 Easy steps to get the information you need

1. Find out what Finance is available. Try out the new interactive ‘Finance Tool’ which collates the most common questions from business owners and offers a definitive answer such as how to manage your cash flow, information on attracting investors, and a range of advice and finance options now available at www.businesslink.gov.uk/finance

 

2. Do you want help starting your business? There’s a good template for writing a business plan at My New Business, our comprehensive start-up service, providing all the information you need to start your business including a personalised start-up checklist, online guides, interactive tools, video case studies and online tutorials

3. Do you want to grow your business?- Go to Growth & Improvement Service to find all the information and support you need with access to new diagnostic tools, a business support finder, online tutorials, and signposting to discussion forums and events in your local area.
 

4. Want to find a business mentor? All you need to do is log on to www.mentorsme.co.uk. If you are a business that needs support or a business professional who can offer support, the site can help you find the right organisation to work with.

 

5. Want to find a business support event near you? Go to ‘Events Finder’ , providing free access to local and national events, workshops and training opportunities. On this site you may be able to advertise your event or business training. Click here to complete the Event organiser application form.

 

6. Want to browse the most useful business tools available on the web? A new interactive ‘Business Tool Finder’ – will:

a. help answer your business-specific questions

b. review your business performance

c. fulfil your legal business requirements

d. connect you to other online resources

 

7. Are you interested in Exporting? - A new ‘Exporting Tool’ is available to help you understand how to take the first steps. If you are already exporting, check out the new practical ‘Exporting Tool’ which will help you plan ahead.

 

8. Boost your business presence, try the ‘Social Media Tool’ for ideas on how to enhance your  presence and measure success.

 

9. ‘Customer Insight Tool’ helps you to make the best use of the information you hold on your customers. This new tool will provide you with a number of ideas on how to capture customer data and customer insights that will inform your growth strategy.

 

10. ‘Business Health Check Tool’, will provide you with access to information and resources, targeted to your specific business growth needs. Whether you’ve recently started a business or are at a crossroads, this tool can point you in the right direction to grow your business.

 

11. A ‘Business Support Finder’ can help you find publicly-funded sources of financial assistance and free or subsidised advice services.

 

12. If you need help finding the information you need go to the Help pages on Businesslink.gov.uk for information on what to do next.  


BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME - WHO WE ARE & WHAT WE DO

 

Our monthly newsletter provides information about changes to the way the Government provides support to people who want to start, improve and grow their business. Click here for more information. 


TELL US WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE NEWSLETTER

 

We are keen to get your feedback on the newsletter and would appreciate it if you would complete the short survey here or share your inspirations and experiences with us at businessimprovement@bis.gsi.gov.uk


Useful links


Connect with BIS

 

We publish this newsletter to keep you up-to-date with progress on the delivery of the Business Improvement Programme. The BIS Bulletin sets out the wider work of BIS to help build a more dynamic and competitive economy. 



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