News
14 September 2007
Simplifying Business Support
A Response to the Consultation
Capital Enterprise, London
Introduction
This response is from Capital Enterprise, the membership body for deliverers of enterprise support in London.
In terms of organisations that this consultation is aimed at, we qualify as all three listed but most closely match “a representative of private, public and third sector organisations that are contracted to provide publicly-funded support to business”.
As a pan-London i.e. regional network and in conjunction with the National Federation of Enterprise Agencies (NFEA), our partner at national level, we have been involved in this consultation from its inception.
Capital Enterprise has co-ordinated the collation of members’ responses (primarily electronically) in London and also held a specific meeting with the London Development Agency on the 14 th of August 2007 so as to enable our response to this important initiative.
Please note that whilst a number of organisations have responded to Capital Enterprise on this consultation, not all members have submitted a response. However, received responses have been from a wide range of organisations, reflecting to an extent, the diversity of our membership and their views - some individual and others collective.
This response to a great extent endorses that of the NFEA, whilst providing specific regional, sub-regional and local insights and examples as relevant.
Summary
Capital Enterprise:
- Believes clients want advice and support which is tailored to their personal needs and to the local economy and which is delivered by credible, professionally-qualified advisers from organisations with strong local roots or possessing sector-specific expertise such as our member enterprise support organisations and partners
- Is concerned that the proposals fail to take account of the potential risks associated with the rationalisation of business support schemes, which could include fewer, rather than more clients; removal of effective local programmes and deliverers; oversight arrangements restricting enterprise; see Local Authorities disenfranchised; private sector involvement and partnership inhibited and overall business support budgets reduced
- Proposes a principles-based approach to the simplification of new government-funded business support, policed by the national Audit Office and Audit Commission, rather than the creation of a new bureaucratic superstructure
- Pledges to work in partnership with the London Development Agency and Business Link London, responding to change and with the objective of increasing the take-up of business support