'Business Link delivers' say customers

Figures revealed from a number of separate reports show that businesses believe they save time, increase their sales and raise profits as a direct result of using the regional Business Link service being delivered by EMB Ltd.

Huge numbers of business owners and budding entrepreneurs are turning to the service, which is funded by East Midlands Development Agency (emda) in the region.

Across the UK, the network of Business Link providers reached a staggering 942,000 customers in the 2008/2009 period and businesslink.gov.uk hosted more than 14 million visits, proving itself as a favourite site for business.

The recent surveys asked Business Link customers to provide feedback on the service and the impact it has had on their business. The figures clearly demonstrate the service is making a difference to the bottom line of businesses across the country, which are reporting that they:

SAVED MONEY: they saved roughly 5.7 million hours (which they valued at approx £121m) and £158 million in cost savings by using the free information and advice on the Business Link website

INCREASED THEIR PROFITS: they attributed additional sales of £360 million and increased profits of £54 million to using the information and guidance on the website

SAVED VALUABLE TIME: the advisory service saved them valuable time researching and gathering information - an average of 17 hours per customer

BENEFITED FROM A FREE HEALTH CHECK: 95,000 businesses accessed a free "Health Check" through which they were offered an impartial, objective assessment of their business performance.

John O'Reilly, Business Support Director at emda, said: "These results demonstrate that businesses really value the quality of support that Business Link provides. At emda we recognise the vital importance of Business Link, which is why, over the past 12 months, the service has supported a record number of businesses in the region.

"Over 80,000 business people in the region had dealings with Business Link over the last year, and an estimated 4,300 new jobs have also been created as a direct result of support received from the service. Business Link is playing a crucial role in helping businesses in the East Midlands to not only get through the recession, but also to ensure that they are in a good position to develop and grow when economic conditions improve."

One business in the East Midlands which has benefited from a Business Link Health Check, is Leicestershire's Ross Handling, which specialises in providing castors, industrial wheels and adjustable feet to customers ranging from hospitals to caterers.

The business is run by owner Frank Fitzpatrick and his daughter, Louise Horne.

"I met a Business Link Adviser at an event I was attending," said Louise. "She visited us and carried out a Health Check. The Business Link Health Check gave me an excellent overview of my business and showed me the new directions that I could take the company in and gave me the confidence to go through with my future plans.

"We were living in the Dark Ages with our internal processes. If a customer rang up to place an order, for example, we'd have to run into the warehouse and ask if a particular product was in stock - hardly the model of efficiency. We weren't very green either, relying heavily on printed records and invoicing."

As a result of the issues identified by the Health Check and the funding obtained through Business Link, the company invested in state of the art software to modernise its operation and accommodate the potential increase expected in orders.

"We're seeing massive savings," added Louise. "At month end for example, we're saving at least two days on the time previously taken to generate statements and invoices as this is now fully automated and many customers now receive these electronically."

For more details about the support provided by Business Link, visit www.businesslink.gov.uk/eastmidlands, or telephone 0845 058 6644.