For those of you who have never used Business Link it is a Gov funded organisation that assists small to medium sized businesses. They run events, have verious industry experts and assist with directing companies to cheaper products and services.
Should the Tories get into power later this year, would-be small-business minister Prisk says that one of his first acts would be to scrap the organisation.
“We believe that Business Link is failing in its task,” he says. “Many surveys show that only a small proportion of businesses use it, and those that do are dissatisfied with the service they receive.”
The problem, says Prisk, is that the advisory service – which employs 1,500 staff at a cost of £190m per year – spends most of its resources directing enquiries elsewhere.
Last month, Business Link was blasted by ex-Dragon Doug Richard, who published his Entrepreneur’s Manifesto.
As well as many small businesses being unhappy with the service, many others are unhappy with its cost to the taxpayer.
Commenting on Business Link, Stephen Alambritis of the Federation of Small Businesses says that although Business Link has improved, it still has “a long way to go”.
To replace the organisation, Prisk proposes that the wide range of already existing regional business and enterprise organisations can take over its responsibilities.
Do you feel that his views are valid, or is this another penny pinching exercise which will have a negative affect on the growth of our economy. Maybe we should be looking at the money wasted abroad and backing companies in the UK who eventually take their business abroad in the end.
I feel that the country is geared up for throwing large sums of money at any large business that threatens to make people unemployed and does not support new businesses who could get the great back in Great Britain.
What are your views and should I get off my soap box now?
