HEWITT WELCOMES IMPROVED BUSINESS LINK PERFORMANCE
(22 March 2004)

The Secretary of State today spoke at the Federation of Small Business (FSB) conference in Blackpool where she welcomed new figures showing improved performance in the Business Link network. She also welcomed the Chancellor's budget statement which outlined measures for the delivery of regional and local Business Link services through the Regional Development Agencies (RDA) from next year.

Addressing an audience of small business people, the Secretary of State explained how delivering local services through the RDAs would bring benefits to local firms.

She said, "From April next year we'll integrate regional and local Business Link services with the Regional Development Agencies. We will keep a strong national framework of quality and standards, so that we don’t go back to the old days of a postcode lottery in business support."

"But the RDAs - with their business leadership and their responsibility for regional economic strategies - will be able to join up business support with the other initiatives taking place across the UK to promote enterprise and strengthen regional economies."

Ms Hewitt also welcomed new Business Link performance figures, adding that "we're changing Business Link for the better. We’ve got more private sector involvement, more competitive tendering, much more focus on the customer. Last year Business Link helped over 310,000 small businesses. Customer satisfaction rates are up to 87% and business market penetration is up by over a half on the year before."

The improved Business Link figures are available from the SBS Performance, Analysis and Research team.