Business Link is a national network of business support agencies. It is managed by the Small Business Service, a Government agency set up to champion small business. It aims to offer all the advice, information and resources a small business needs to be successful.
Business Link services
Business Link delivers impartial advice and information on all aspects of business, from planning and starting a business to expanding it - whether a small or medium sized enterprise. They will tackle most issues including finance and money, staff management, sales and marketing, exporting, e-commerce, information technology, tax and law relevant to small business.
Business Link also brings together local business support services and offers access to specialists where they can not help directly. As well as a network of 45 local offices throughout England, Business Link operates a telephone contact centre and website.
Cost of services
Clients are usually expected to contribute to the costs of the service they receive, but special arrangements for startup businesses often apply so that initial, general business advice is free of charge. Costs are subsidised and vary across the country according to individual offices.
Contact details
There are three ways to contact Business Link:
Telephone the national contact centre on 0845 600 9 006, open from 8am-8pm, Monday to Saturday
Visit the website on www.businesslink.gov.uk.
Go to your local Business Link provider directly by telephone, fax, email or in person
Look for the Business Link equivalents in:
Scotland - Scottish Enterprise. Tel: 0141 248 2700 www.scottish-enterprise.com
Wales - Business Eye Tel: 08457 96 97 98 www.businesseye.org.uk
Northern Ireland - Invest Northern Ireland Tel: 028 9023 9090 www.investni.com