Pictured above: Abbi Barclay

Business Link, the free business advisory service, has launched a local initiative, part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), to increase business support in Corby by providing additional community-based business advisers in the area.

The "Outreach Support" project is designed to provide practical support and advice to those people wanting to start their own business, or help existing small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) across the area who have not previously accessed the local Business Link service.

The ERDF project adds to Business Link's existing activity, by helping local individuals and companies discover how a mixture of informal action planning, workshops and grant provision can benefit their business growth, now and in the future.

Two specific teams have been created to help offer business support in Corby. The first team will support those businesses that are already established and have started trading. The second team will be dedicated to assist local people looking to start their own business.

Abbi Barclay is experienced in delivering business support for established businesses. She has strong community links in Corby and considerable experience in business development and client retention.

Abi says, " Our role is to proactively assist those individuals and eligible existing SMEs in becoming more competitive. Our experience can provide real support in many key areas such as assisting businesses looking to employ more people."

Creating new jobs is a key element in helping the local economy to grow and Abi can help businesses access additional resources. These include all the latest information on the national minimum wage, how to prevent discrimination and value diversity, legislation on hours, rest breaks and the working week and what steps you can take to fill your jobs with people from the local community.

Phil Curtis is a specialist local adviser, with extensive experience in delivering business support to individuals looking to start their own business. He has developed strong community links and has had considerable success in helping small businesses develop and grow.

Phil says,  "Our role is to actively assist those thinking about starting a local business to become competitive and profitable - particularly important in these times of economic difficulty. "

If you have not previously used the services of Business Link and want to find out more about how the ERDF-funded project can help boost your business, contact Business Link on 0845 058 6644 or email info@businesslinkem.co.uk