Business Link

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Business Link is the United Kingdom Government’s multi-channel support service for business of all sizes, for all phases of growth, from start-up to succession. As a non-political organisation it is dedicated to helping new and existing businesses innovate, improve, grow and become more competitive.

Business Link is built on the belief that all businesses, whether new or established, need to improve and grow continually if they are to compete effectively and meet their future goals. As such, easy access to relevant and affordable business information, advice and assistance is the catalyst to their future success.

Business Link services are delivered by 45 county-based Business Link Operators. These are funded by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and managed by the nine Regional Development Agencies.

Business Link only covers the regions of England. Elsewhere in the UK, its counterparts are Business Gateway (Scotland), Business Eye (Wales) and InvestNI (Northern Ireland).

In April 2007 the English Business Link organisations are to be rationalised into 9 regional bodies controlled by the Regional Development Agencies.

[edit] Businesslink.gov.uk

Businesslink.gov.uk is a free website provided by the UK government under the Business Link branding to help businesses succeed in the UK. It has three main types of information:

text content explaining regulations and other areas of business in well-written English. Where regulations are explained, the text is checked by subject matter experts in the relevant government departments
directory content - for example, directories of events, forms, publications, and contact telephone numbers useful to business.
interactive tools that answer key business questions, such as VAT or regulation matters.

The site was launched in 2003.

The Varney Report, published at the same time as the Pre-Budget Report for 2006, recommended "a freeze on the development of new websites providing ... business eservices created by departments, agencies and non departmental public bodies ... and [that] by 2011, almost all ... business e-services migrate to ... Businesslink.gov and all e-transactions are provided through [this] primary [site]. This means that all departments will have one corporate website, utilising shared infrastructure and all other sites will be closed."

Businesslink.gov.uk is currently administered by a private company, Serco.