EMB Ltd helps 67,000 businesses access solutions to survive & thrive

In the last year, the region's Business Link service has enabled even more businesses to receive the help they need to survive, develop and grow, according to figures just released by the East Midlands Development Agency (emda).

Figures for the year 2008/09 show that Business Link services have been provided to 67,604 existing businesses and to a further 14,561 entrepreneurs who were thinking of starting a business.

New businesses from across the region have also been nurtured by Business Link. Those that received support from the service experienced a very healthy survival rate of slightly more than 90%, with 1,759 of them celebrating their first full year of trading.

The work undertaken by the Business Link service has helped to create almost 4,300 jobs and achieve an independently verified customer satisfaction survey level of 90%. With a very large increase of more than 30% in the number of customers in the year, the dissatisfaction rate for the service was only 3%.

Core Business Link services in the East Midlands are delivered through EMB Ltd, which was awarded the contract by emda following a competitive tender process in 2006.

Stephen Smith, Chief Executive of EMB says: "Great progress has been made since the regional Business Link service went live in April 2007 and the last year in particular has seen excellent results."

"The team at EMB is determined to build on this success and we believe that, even in the current economic climate, we can improve upon these achievements. We aim to continue delivering a high quality service that enables even more businesses to access the help and support they need, confirming the East Midlands as an excellent location to start, grow and develop a business."

The new regional Business Link service has developed rapidly during 2008/9 and now employs significantly more front line staff than the previous five county based Business Links.

EMB now employ 32 in their central enquiry hub, with an additional 110 advisory staff, giving a total of 142 customer facing staff delivering Business Link activity, compared to 90 just two years ago. This increase has been achieved on the same funding by driving efficiencies in back office functions. Additional advisers also work under the Business Link brand to deliver the regional start up service and the land based business programme.

Advisory teams operate from locally based area offices, co-located with Chamber of Commerce offices in Derby, Leicester, Lincoln, Nottingham and Northampton, plus a further 41 local access points, established to reach out to under-represented groups and areas.

Michael Carr, emda's Executive Director of Business Services, said: "Clearly this has been a very difficult year for businesses, with the economic slowdown and subsequent recession affecting businesses in all sectors, right across the region."

"This is why Business Link is more important than ever and, over the past 12 months, the service has supported a record number of businesses in the region. The new businesses and jobs created with Business Link support are vital to the future of the economy."

The Business Link service will be further enhanced this year, with the integration of the Train to Gain brokerage service. This will enable Business Link advisers to provide a 'first-stop shop' for all the business, skills and training support that businesses require.

emda's Business Support Director, John O'Reilly added: "The team at EMB has once again achieved a high level of performance in delivering the Business Link service in the region. They have exceeded all of their key targets, whilst maintaining a very high customer satisfaction level."

"We will be working closely with EMB to ensure that businesses across the region continue to receive the high quality support that they need to ensure they are in the best possible shape to get through the recession and take advantage of the upturn when it comes."

For more information about how Business Link services can help to start, maintain or grow businesses, visit www.businesslink.gov.uk/eastmidlands, or telephone 0845 058 6644.