'Together we'll help businesses beat recession' (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

'Together we'll help businesses beat recession'

2:03pm Wednesday 14th October 2009 in Business By Chris Holland

As a result of consultation with Bradford’s Enterprise and Investment Partnership, two bodies have agreed steps to further strengthen support services to local businesses.

Taking account of the difficulties which businesses in the district have faced during the recession, along with opportunities which will emerge in the recovery, Bradford Council and Business Link Yorkshire will put a strong focus on several key objectives, including:

* raising business competitiveness, performance and productivity.

* developing new business markets, including export markets.

* encouraging businesses to take up support offers around innovation, research and development and knowledge transfer.

Business Link Yorkshire is the regional arm of the Government’s primary business support service and has worked with more than 8,000 businesses in the Bradford district during its first year of operation.

Jules O’Dor, Business Link Yorkshire’s director of enterprise services, said: “As the recession took hold we realised that close co-operation with Bradford Council was important to maximise support to local businesses in Bradford.

“We had already been working in partnership with the Council’s Kickstart enterprise support programme and both agreed it was a good idea to formalise this co-operation under the guidance of the District’s Enterprise and Investment Partnership, which has strong representation from the district’s business leaders.

“Our work in supporting both new-start and existing businesses is complementary to that of Kickstart. We work together to ensure that businesses get the best possible support.”

Since it was launched in April 2006 the Kickstart programme, working with Business Link and other key partners, has helped to create more than 950 new local businesses and supported 2,400 existing businesses. This has included providing loans totalling more than £1.2m.

Some of this lending support has been crucial to local business survival during the recession as credit from the high street banks became difficult to access.

Kickstart’s business growth advisers and community-based business coaches frequently refer clients to Business Link, whose comprehensive range of support services is funded by the regional development agency Yorkshire Forward.

Kickstart’s additional specialist support, which includes ‘Access2Finance’ and Professional Services, is funded from central Government in recognition of the challenges which the district faces in strengthening its business base as part of the Council’s economic strategy for the district.

Sandy Needham, Bradford Chamber’s chief executive, said: “As a member of the Enterprise and Investment Partnership I am encouraged by the increased focus which Business Link Yorkshire is putting on supporting businesses in Bradford.

“Closer co-operation with Bradford Council’s own business support services can only be a good thing for local businesses and for the local economy.”

* For more information on Brad-ford Kickstart, call (0800) 953 9503, or e-mail bradfordkickstart.com * For more information on Business Link Yorkshire, call (0845) 604 8048, or e-mail businesslink yorkshire.co.uk