small-business-service-other

The Small Business Service is one of the key driving forces taking forward the Government Action Plan for Small Business. The plan is structured around seven strategic themes - each one of which has a range of current and new actions and initiatives aimed at achieving the Government's small business objectives. Details of most of those initiatives are available from this website. You can also access a copy of the entire Action Plan from this site and we have developed an Implementation Plan which shows in more detail how Government is delivering the new actions. This is being regularly updated. The Small Business Service (SBS) is an agency of the Department of Trade and Industry. We have a simple vision - we want the UK to be the best place in the world to start and grow a business. We are working with the rest of government to deliver this vision. The DTI Small Business Service aims to: Champion a culture that prizes and fosters enterprise, and help businesses start and develop as their capabilities grow. Make sure that government support services (including access to finance) are accessible, relevant and of high quality. Make special efforts to release the enterprise of ethnic minority groups, women entrepreneurs and others who have such potential to contribute to UK business. The Small Business Service Strategy: Small Business and Government - The Way Forward (in PDF format 152KB), published in December 2002, sets out a new policy framework for a government-wide approach to helping small firms. It was jointly endorsed by the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. The Small Business Service identifies seven strategic themes as key drivers for economic growth, improved productivity and a wider involvement in enterprise for all: Building an enterprise culture. Encouraging a more dynamic start-up market. Building the capability for small business growth. Improving access to finance for small businesses. Encouraging more enterprise in disadvantaged communities and under represented groups. Improving small businesses' experience of government services. Developing better regulation and policy. The DTI Small Business Service are committed to meeting the needs of our customers and partners as effectively as possible. To ensure we meet these needs, we constantly monitor our performance in this area and have developed a set of Service Standards. These cover such areas as the quality of the information we provide; prompt responses to enquiries, grant claims/invoices; and confidentiality. The Small Business Service has nine regional teams across England. Contact details for the regional directors can be found on the department of trade and industry website - DTI Website