Business Link for London will soon have a new boss.
The London Development Agency (LDA) has announced that service company Serco will take over the administration of the capital’s small business support service beginning in April next year.
The company signed a £60m agreement with the LDA for the three-year operator grant. Over this time, the LDA said it expects Business Link to provide support to more than half of the capital’s small businesses.
A significant group it predicts it will serve will be businesses run by women and those from black, Asian and minority ethnic groups who sometimes find it more difficult to negotiate the business world.
“Ensuring that small- and medium-sized businesses have access to the right type of support is a key area of development for the LDA,” said the agency’s chief executive, Manny Lewis.
“Together with Serco we can share expertise and experience to achieve the maximum impact for London’s rapidly-moving economy, while at the same time providing value for money.”
Serco will be responsible for providing information, diagnostic and brokerage services which will include advice on how firms can tap into 2012 Olympic business opportunities.
The firm will also help companies gain access to other support providers across both public and private sectors.
The LDA’s agreement with Serco is subject to approval by secretary of state for trade and industry Alan Johnson.
