News

With spring upon us, it's an ideal time for a spring clean - and not just at home. All businesses need to keep up to date with trends and technology in order to attract customers and increase sales; and will benefit from stepping back and taking a fresh look at business operations.

Business Link, the free business advice and support service, offers businesses of all sizes and sectors a free business review ‘health check' to spot areas for improvement and opportunities for development. Businesses can start with an online check www.businesslink.gov.uk/southeast/healthcheck which can be followed up with an in-depth, review meeting with a local Business Link Adviser.

Business Link's Deborah Wyatt said, ‘It is so important for businesses to identify areas for improvement and development. Even when you are very busy running a business day-to-day, you do need to look ahead, and this is where an impartial assessment by someone outside the business can be very helpful. Businesses should not try and struggle alone, Business Link is there to support you.'

Deborah explains how ‘spring cleaning' a business will help it maintain health, and retain a strong position to prepare your business for the recovery.

• Brushing up

Most businesses will be required to comply with some form of legislation, so it's worth keeping up-to-date with changes.  Please visit: www.businesslink.gov.uk/regulationupdates

•  De-clutter

Many businesses could save time and money by making processes leaner and more effective.  

•  Clean and polish

For any business to continue to offer a high quality service, it is essential to know how customers perceive it - and act on any feedback received.

Go to Business Link www.businesslink.gov.uk/healthcheck to find out how a free Health Check could help you to review the health of your business and identify opportunities for future growth or call our customer services team on 0845 600 9 006.  

In Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Business Link has supported over 23,000 businesses over the past year, by providing business information, advice, events and support. In addition over 1,200 new businesses have benefited from the Business Link service in 2009. Nationally businesslink.gov.uk had more than 14 million visits, proving to be a favourite site for business.