CBI attacks Government's business support network
The CBI has made a scathing attack on the Government's business support network, claiming it is "failing to provide consistently high quality help and advice".
The criticism comes on the back of a report released in the CBI's 'Enabling the Enterprise Revolution' series, which aims to review the progress of Government initiatives designed to support enterprise.
Particular criticism is directed at the number of grants and support programmes offered to UK firms - a whopping 2,650 in England alone. Together with inconsistent quangos and conflicting advice about how to access support, the CBI argues that small business owners are increasingly discouraged from entering the chaotic world of Government support.
Business Link, the Government-funded advice network throughout England, also received severe criticism. Although £14 million is spent on the Business Link network each year, businesses find its services difficult to access (if they know they are available at all) and many don't trust the advice they get, with only just over a third of those questioned being satisfied with the advice they received.
The CBI has offered some alternatives to the current system of Government support, which include streamlining the multitude of support services currently available, focusing the activities of Regional Development Agencies on economic development and ensuring that publicly funded support services meet demand in the business community.
