Business advisers to offer free services to small firms

[edit] Introduction

Thousands of expert professional and business services advisers have signed up to offer free online advice to help small businesses bounce back from COVID-19.

[edit] Recovery Advice for Business scheme

The Recovery Advice for Business scheme, supported by the Government and hosted on the Enterprise Nation website, will give small firms access to free, one-to-one advice with an expert adviser to help them through the coronavirus pandemic and to prepare for long-term recovery.

Advice offered will include bespoke, specialist assistance from accountancy, legal, and advertising to marketing, recruitment and digital to help businesses adapt to difficult circumstances and to bounce back as the UK economy recovers.

Business experts, supported by the UK's major professional and trade bodies, have rallied behind the government-backed initiative, with thousands of expert advisers already on hand and ready to do their bit to help small businesses recover and build.

[edit] Enterprise Nation reaching out to small businesses

Small Business Minister Paul Scully said: "We have stood by small businesses throughout this crisis, offering a wide-ranging package of financial support. However, it is also important that business owners get easy access to expert advice and support.

"It is incredible to see so many professional advisers stepping up to do their bit for small businesses across the country. This advice platform will help to boost our recovery from the impact of coronavirus, giving small businesses extra support to adapt their business models and come back fighting."

Emma Jones, founder small business support network Enterprise Nation, said: "The COVID-19 pandemic has left thousands of SMEs facing a set of completely new challenges now and into the future. There has never been a more important time for firms to turn to the trusted advice of a professional and start on a path to recovery.

"We've been overwhelmed and astonished by the generosity of the adviser community, thousands of whom have stepped forward to give their time and knowledge to revive, guide and support the nation's small businesses through the pandemic to regain the momentum and restore the economic confidence with which we started the year.

"Running a business can be isolating at the best of times, and this initiative will mean founders will not have to face the future alone."

[edit] Areas of focus

Thousands of expert professional and business services advisers are on hand to offer free advice until 31 December 2020. Small and medium sized businesses can sign up, take the diagnostic tool and access support.

Advice will focus on key areas:

• Accounting and finance.
• People and building a team.
• Planning, strategy and pivoting.
• Marketing, PR and social media.
• Technology and digital tools.

This article appeared under the title, 'Thousands of business advisers to offer free services to small firms' on the CIAT website. It was originally published on 9 July 2020.

--CIAT

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki

• Business models in construction.
• CIAT articles.
• Construction Client Buddy Scheme.
• Coronavirus and the construction industry.
• Enterprise Nation.
• Small and medium-sized enterprises SME.
• SMEs and government contracts.

[edit] External resources

• Enterprise Nation, Recovery Advice for Business.