11/10/2011
Small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) around the UK will benefit from the launch of a regional business advice service.
The Business Advisory Service was created by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and will support SMEs - regardless of where they are based.
Over 2,000 professionals from ICAEW have volunteered to provide business and financial advice to SME owners; explaining everything from the benefits of options like invoice discounting to how business can better attract new custom.
A regional director for ICAEW, Keith Proudfoot, provided Nebusiness.co.uk with an official statement on the launch. It read: "Start-ups or growing small businesses need the best advice to succeed at a time of fragile recovery and limits on public spending.
"In response, the Business Advice Service will offer SMEs the opportunity to discuss their business with a qualified chartered accountant through a free initial consultation."
The news has been warmly received; with the minister of state for business and enterprise, Mark Prisk, publicly acknowledging its launch.
He stated: "This service is an example of how businesses can work together and will hopefully lead to local economic growth and potential job creation."
ICAEW revealed on icaew.com that SMEs wishing to take advantage of the service can search for their local professional on the its main website.
Deborah Bates