5 October 2011
The Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) are transforming the information and advice available online for businesses. This will be underpinned by a Helpline. They are also investing in helping high potential small businesses to grow through Business Coaching for Growth and we are facilitating the development of a wider network of business mentors who can share their knowledge and experience peer to peer with small businesses.
There are 12 services (2 of which are online), with the following cdfa members, NWES and Prime, participating in the “More accessible business mentors” programme, mentorsme.co.uk, which is operated by the Business Finance Taskforce, which has been set up by the British Bankers’ Association and is made up of five banks: Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group, Royal Bank of Scotland and Santander.
Much of this new landscape will come in to effect in November 2011. BIS have have developed a tool-kit, which will be continually updated, enabling stakeholders and others to access the core narrative of the scheme.
www.bis.gov.uk/policies/enterprise-and-business-support/business-improvement/toolkit