With the latest official figures revealing that unemployment in the East Midlands rose by 1.8% to 170,000 in the three months to June. Business Link is reminding those with aspirations of being their own boss that practical support and advice is FREELY available to help turn their business dreams into a business reality.

In the last year, the regional Business Link service enabled over 100,000 businesses and entrepreneurs to receive the help they needed to start, survive and grow.

Figures for the year 2009/10 show that Business Link services have been provided to 21,670 entrepreneurs who were thinking of starting a business across the East Midlands and helped support 2,310 new businesses to survive through their all important first year of trading. FREE, practical support workshops are available across the East Midlands to help motivate local people who may be thinking about starting their own business.

Stephen Smith, Chief Executive of EMB Ltd, the organisation responsible for local delivery of the Business Link service say "Accessing the right support and training can make all the difference between success and failure of a new business and those wanting to explore the self employment option can benefit from accessing our FREE dedicated Start-Up Service".

Whatever your situation, the Business Link Start-Up Service offers local access to FREE advice and support to those people wanting to start their own business or those currently in the early stages of running their own business who may simply need some extra help or advice to grow and realise their ambition.

·  Web based information and tools

·  Telephone and email support

·  Self help material

·  Structured workshops covering all the basic elements of starting a business

For all the latest details on forthcoming local workshops, or how Business Link can help your business to start, grow and succeed, call 0845 058 6644 email: info@businesslinkem.co.uk or visit www.businesslink.gov.uk/eastmidlands/thinkbusiness