tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313427840293019864.post5314661679052258220..comments2023-10-09T11:08:03.947+01:00Comments on Bright Marketing: What Next After The Business Link?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04641628859399373785noreply@blogger.comBlogger90125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313427840293019864.post-6867912001321367982011-06-20T08:59:20.378+01:002011-06-20T08:59:20.378+01:00DragonDen Peter Jones hits back in row - Telegraph...DragonDen Peter Jones hits back in row - Telegraph http://tgr.ph/m1aD7K Handbags at dawn to help startups!!!Martinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313427840293019864.post-71677776683250130162011-04-05T12:59:45.872+01:002011-04-05T12:59:45.872+01:00entrepreneurship is not the same as self employmen...entrepreneurship is not the same as self employment<br /><br />http://ideas.economist.com/blog/entrepreneurship-%E2%89%A0-self-employmentRobert Cravenhttp://www.robert-craven.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313427840293019864.post-14888822175681339652011-03-31T08:51:00.547+01:002011-03-31T08:51:00.547+01:00#startupbritain is an episode of The Thick of It. ...#startupbritain is an episode of The Thick of It. Hollow. Link farm. Malware. Bad design. Derivative of Businesslink. And... farcical comedyPaulNeznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313427840293019864.post-38863504983808865062011-03-31T08:50:24.157+01:002011-03-31T08:50:24.157+01:00@sawdrl: #startupbritain http://t.co/EzkhTdo Is th...@sawdrl: #startupbritain http://t.co/EzkhTdo Is this a huge joke ? Just where on the website can you see what funding HMG will provide for startupsPaulNeznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313427840293019864.post-29722134669994747642011-03-31T08:39:03.726+01:002011-03-31T08:39:03.726+01:00@fractals: Why #StartUpBritain is nothing more tha...@fractals: Why #StartUpBritain is nothing more than a government backed link farm http://ht.ly/4q5iNPaulNeznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313427840293019864.post-79212848824717863302011-03-31T08:38:06.897+01:002011-03-31T08:38:06.897+01:00@apricotmuffins @dollymixture - it's farcical ...@apricotmuffins @dollymixture - it's farcical just how bad & unhelpful #startupbritain really is. I'll stick to BusinessLink et al. xxPaulNeznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313427840293019864.post-31943643512911033052011-03-31T08:36:41.324+01:002011-03-31T08:36:41.324+01:00Govt backed link farm website #StartUpBritain link...Govt backed link farm website #StartUpBritain linked to malware - http://ow.ly/1sihHXPaulNeznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313427840293019864.post-12847787245521493642011-03-31T08:23:01.522+01:002011-03-31T08:23:01.522+01:00Your prophecy is fairly accurate. The core of the...Your prophecy is fairly accurate. The core of the argument is contained in this para:<br /><br />So what next?<br />1) All BL services go into freefall - no-one knows what is going on.<br />2) Several hundred (ex-BL) business advisers could be about to be let loose on the market.<br />3) New options will appear scrabbling to fill the hole that will be left by the eventual demise of the BL.<br />4) The Government will create a new centralised solution to local problems. (How does that work?)<br />5) Something better...<br /><br />Shame about the advert at the end.<br /><br />SianSiannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313427840293019864.post-10004305845870366042011-03-31T08:17:58.204+01:002011-03-31T08:17:58.204+01:00this was prophetic.
Denisthis was prophetic.<br />DenisDenisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313427840293019864.post-53427355942441904312011-03-10T10:06:20.524+00:002011-03-10T10:06:20.524+00:00Yes, there has to be something better. Yes, the Go...Yes, there has to be something better. Yes, the Govnt will not come up with a cunning solution. Yes, market forces mean we will get a bunch of hit-and-run merchants ripping off the SMEs. yes, some offering will be better than others. But all this has been the case for the last 10 years. So, what is the difference?Jim (BL)noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313427840293019864.post-13688499775832925472011-03-10T10:06:20.029+00:002011-03-10T10:06:20.029+00:00The IOD is a perfectly sensible place for small bu...The IOD is a perfectly sensible place for small businesses to go for their business advice support needs. www.iod.comAMWhttp://www.iod.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313427840293019864.post-34189594461509539942011-03-10T10:06:19.466+00:002011-03-10T10:06:19.466+00:00"Maybe the market will solve the problem befo..."Maybe the market will solve the problem before the Government has finished its consultation..."<br><br>IMHO that's already happening, I see LinkedIn groups (regional and per sector) popping up all over the place, dedicated to help each other and specially start-ups out.<br><br>Everyone can "chip" in this way and everyone can learn (even those who think they know it all ;-))<br><br>Karin HKarin Hhttp://www.thekissbusiness.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313427840293019864.post-8602591103629413302011-03-10T10:06:19.215+00:002011-03-10T10:06:19.215+00:00MMSurely you are not serious. The banks or the IOD...MM<br><br>Surely you are not serious. The banks or the IOD! Neither has arrived in the 21st century. Neither knows what a customer is or what customer service is so why should they be able to help? Neither knows what it is like to run a small business.<br><br>DavidDavid Snoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313427840293019864.post-65121267013302294382011-03-10T10:06:18.957+00:002011-03-10T10:06:18.957+00:00LinkedIn Groups Group: Business Link Networking Gr...LinkedIn Groups <br>Group: Business Link Networking Groups <br>Subject: New comment (18) on "The end for BL?" <br>The demise of business link - well not sure what the future holds with LEPs and what ever else is put in place. The Consultancy Group I work with provide advice into Business Link Specialist Programmes, which is seeing a cut in funding and hence less work. I would like to think that yes this is all great for the future - however as mentioned in a previous post - Will companies pay for the private sector to provide Business Support, or is it the case that for the SME market the private sector will have to adjust the rates they charge - or the business models they operate with.<br><br>Who really knows, all we do know is it's all going to change. Hopefully for the better. <br><br>We all have a chance to comment on what LEPs and Business Support should be doing - send in your views to the Commons Business Committee.. http://blogs.birminghampost.net/news/2010/07/commons-business-committee-ask.htmlJPhttp://www.linkedin.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313427840293019864.post-51981477989693491542011-03-10T10:06:18.799+00:002011-03-10T10:06:18.799+00:00Mr CThe point you are missing (or waiting for)is &...Mr C<br><br>The point you are missing (or waiting for)is "what are you going to do about it?" As you say the oppportunity is huge. And what about Barclays? And what about you AND Barclays?ENhttp://www.linkedin.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313427840293019864.post-17344110350213208372011-03-10T10:06:18.575+00:002011-03-10T10:06:18.575+00:00Along with the loss of Business Link will be the l...Along with the loss of Business Link will be the loss of Government funding that I have helped 28 of my business-owner clients access in the last 18 months. This funding, up to £1000, has been instrumental in Business Owners taking up Business Coaching Programmes to help develp and grow their businesses and become more profitable. I have seen enormous success with my clients who have taken on new staff as they have grown and this surely helps the country get back to work. Imagine if every small business was able to take on just one new member of staff because they had grown through accessing the right help through funding, then the unemployment figures would drop dramatically saving this country lots of much needed money after the recession. Cutting funding to SMEs is a very short-sighted 'saving' of money and everything possible should be done to support SMEs who are the life-blood of the recovery of this economy.TDhttp://www.linkedin.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313427840293019864.post-9088834187510410062011-03-10T10:06:18.413+00:002011-03-10T10:06:18.413+00:00I do not think it is time to celebrate the end of ...I do not think it is time to celebrate the end of Business Link. For me it was a great idea and refresher course for setting up a business from scratch without any outlay. The quality of some of the tutors could definitely have been better. However, the fact it was available to both new and existing businesses who identified they needed help was an excellent idea. <br><br>As far as I can see, I have yet to see this government support entrepreneurship. Job Centres are still very much geared to getting people back into working for an employer rather than helping them develop a business idea. <br><br>Quite frankly, all I have seen is as this recession get deeper and deeper, that any help to encourage people to setup by themselves is non existent. There are those that argue that this is the way to go, because if you can survive and build a business with little or no support you are more likely to remain in business, but taking away knowledge, as Business Link offered is in my humble opinion a huge mistake.<br><br>I remain interested to see what happens next. In the meantime will keep trudging on as before, one foot in front of the other.RChttp://www.linkedin.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313427840293019864.post-38284026097104307262011-03-10T10:06:18.179+00:002011-03-10T10:06:18.179+00:00On reflection, something better than BL needs to h...On reflection, something better than BL needs to happen. Local or national I am not sure. But something needs to happen. While BL appears to be a red herring (lots of people didn't like it) it still provided a potentially valuable service. Maybe the Cravens of the world maybe with the help of Barclays can do soemthing significant. Have they got the vision?<br><br>AmandaAmanda Enoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313427840293019864.post-35859333061680234812011-03-10T10:06:17.996+00:002011-03-10T10:06:17.996+00:00I agree. My point is that now, more than ever, the...I agree. My point is that now, more than ever, there is a whole wealth of advice out there and businesses no longer need to go into a Business Link branch to find it. There are lots of experts, with loads of relevant experience, happy to answer questions in groups such as this.HHhttp://www.linkedin.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313427840293019864.post-44702267263594454302011-03-10T10:06:17.693+00:002011-03-10T10:06:17.693+00:00I used to work for Business Link and still work in...I used to work for Business Link and still work in amongst enterprise support organisations, as well as running my own business which, as well as the core business also advises clients in our field of expertise - starting and growing foee with od businesses. Many clients come to us and say "I have learnt more from you in an hour than I have from all the govt funded support organisations I have approached". and that's because the generic advice can only go so far before the client needs more bespoke advice relevant to their aspirations and gaps in knowledge/confidence. Agree with Robert; support still needed, funding still needed. But after 15 years it is time for a change because the old model of delivery is too expensive and does not reach deep enough. I also advocate strongly that the "advice" money should follow the client - let the client choose the supplier they think is best for their needs and then provide some funding to help them afford private sector support. Consultants/providers will then have to compete on relevance, quality and price. <br><br>OAOAhttp://www.linkedin.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313427840293019864.post-58256031481276049272011-03-10T10:06:17.438+00:002011-03-10T10:06:17.438+00:00This may be a tad controversial, but it is garnere...This may be a tad controversial, but it is garnered from the experience of some clients that I worked with previously, as well as me attending some Business Link events within the last 6 months, and it is this:<br><br>The fact that many Business Link 'services' were free, was a BAD thing.<br><br>So why would that be a bad thing?<br><br>Well, despite the good intentions from Business Link, businesses that I have spoken to just didn't take free advice with the same seriousness as paid advice. Simple as that. The perception was that if it is free then it cannot really be that beneficial/advantageous/useful, and therefore was infrequently acted upon or implemented.<br><br>Personally, having attended a few of their events prior to the change in Government, I agree to a degree. I think that the way they delivered their information was dated and inappropriate, too much, too overwhelming - expecting attendees to take notes.<br><br>In one notable event I'm also not sure that the level of expertise and experience was relevant to the audience - as a presentation full of big corporate examples, case studies and strategies was being given to SMEs - the audience looked both shell-shocked and confused all at the same time.<br><br>This is purely based upon my own experiences however.<br><br>As already mentioned, there should be enough quality consultants and professionals out there to pick up the slack, albeit in many cases not gratis. I suppose, as in all cases, the issue is finding the good ones amongst the not-so good ones. <br><br>STSThttp://www.linkedin.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313427840293019864.post-45717597453904426632011-03-10T10:06:17.141+00:002011-03-10T10:06:17.141+00:00As one of the Independent consultants Business Lin...As one of the Independent consultants Business Link used to deliver the business review service, I am particularly sad to see the service change. Many start up and small business owners have gone on to achieve greater success because of the support they have received. The high level of customer satisfaction statistics show this to be the case in Sussex. <br><br>I doubt whether a call centre and/or website option will truly work, as part of the success achieved in the past has been due a consultant working with the business owner on a face to face basis over time, getting to know and understand the business to offer real value plus the full back up service available from the Business Link office including training where required.<br><br>I too will watch the governments next steps with interest.CAhttp://www.linkedin.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313427840293019864.post-78143019793112396752011-03-10T10:06:16.916+00:002011-03-10T10:06:16.916+00:00The same thing has happened in Wales - http://www....The same thing has happened in Wales - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-10702611<br>The business grant culture is finished, and about time too. Hundreds of lightweight consultants have produced poor quality reports that add no value to the client's business.<br><br>But we are our own worst enemy - creating a market and expectation that does not require any form of accreditation or quality control.<br><br>It will take a while for SMEs to realise they have to pay for good quality service - but when they do, they will be looking for qualified consultants, with accreditations, references and an up to date set of testimonilas to support heir claims of "I can improve the performance of your business"<br><br>Mike Warren - GreyMatter - CardiffGreyMatterUKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18159036864136118836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313427840293019864.post-12541769021129795982011-03-10T10:06:16.659+00:002011-03-10T10:06:16.659+00:00Robert - excellent blog topic.BL has been major fi...Robert - excellent blog topic.<br><br>BL has been major fiasco, and no offence meant to all parties involved.<br><br>In areas where BL had adviser trying to be the solution, it was self evident that it lacked the calibre/resources/skills (@£22k approx) to deliver what was needed.<br><br>Acting as 3rd party referrer was an improvement but again it lacked the 'follow through continuity'.<br><br>The private sector is fare better placed to deliver value and professionalism.<br><br>The fear of rogue consultants is greatly overstated, but consultant registers help a little towards sifting out the 'ill intentioned'.<br><br>Perhaps legislation to say all consultants must have passed a certain accreditation may also help. <br><br>In conclusion. Where did BL go wrong? <br>It was (i) Inefficient (ii) Ineffective (iii) Expensive.<br><br>If RC was Minister responsible for SMEs (is that Vince Cable currently?) what we do....no sugar coating Robert!Accountant Nowhttp://www.accounantnow.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313427840293019864.post-3593057441008264282011-03-10T10:06:16.478+00:002011-03-10T10:06:16.478+00:00ouch!With 4m small businesses it makes 8.75 per bu...ouch!<br>With 4m small businesses it makes 8.75 per business per year. With mkt penetration clained at roughly 10% (ie 400,000 businesses) it makes it 87.50 per business. If half those business actually used it, it makes it 175 pounds per business that used it<br><br>RCRobert Cravenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04641628859399373785noreply@blogger.com