Business Link has completed its expanded 17-strong team of full time business advisers, who are now on the road to support small and medium-sized businesses across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
Including a number of completely new appointments, these experienced business professionals are joining forces with Business Link’s existing on-line advisory and start-up services already operating in the county to provide fully rounded business support.
A high proportion of the team have the newly created positions of specialist Convergence advisers, appointed especially to help the most innovative and ambitious firms fulfil their potential and boost the Cornish economy as a whole.
These appointments have been enabled by a £6 million investment from the South West RDA and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Convergence Programme. They will work closely with Business Link’s team of ‘core’ advisers, to ensure that all Cornish businesses have straightforward access to the advice and support they need.
All the business advisers are experienced, hands-on managers and operators with a wealth of wisdom to share. “These are successful business people, who now want others to benefit from all the lessons they’ve learned,” said Adam Chambers, who heads up the Business Link service across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
“And their help is available at no cost whatever to you or your business,” he continued. “Their support represents a great opportunity for anyone who’s serious about business improvement. First, your adviser will work closely with you to understand your business. Then they’ll help you develop an effective action plan to improve it. And finally they’ll put you in touch with the carefully selected professionals who can deliver the changes your business needs.”
Rosemary Wells, Director of Business Services at the South West RDA, said: “These appointments are a major enhancement of business support activity in Cornwall and underline the RDA’s commitment to helping businesses through the economic downturn so they can survive and thrive when the recovery comes. Small and medium-sized businesses are the bedrock of Cornwall’s economy and they now have access to dedicated one-to-one support.”
Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Convergence Partnership Office for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, added: “This ERDF Convergence investment is part of a raft of planned measures aimed at additional support for businesses. This tailored advice for businesses with the ambition to grow will be complemented by initiatives such as access to training and upskilling, improved broadband infrastructure and bespoke workspace.”
