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Business Link unveils new advisory team for Cornish businesses
12.03.09
Business Link has completed its significantly 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 Cornwall 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,” says 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 continues. "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, says: "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.”
Anyone wishing to arrange a face-to-face meeting with one of Business Link's Business Advisers should call 0845 600 9966 or visit www.businesslinksw.co.uk, where you'll also find details of the many other services that Business Link is involved with.
The complete advisory team is:
Core advisers:
Brent Treloar: a skilled and experienced strategist focussed on the key business development areas of finance, marketing and operations
Alex Nicholas: concentrates on helping businesses with all aspects of sales strategy and management
Belinda Waldock: helps businesses in many sectors reach their objectives by adopting the best technologies for their needs
Clare Whitney: a marketing specialist with particular expertise in delivering highly effective business and marketing strategy workshops
Lloyd Brina: a former lawyer specialising in Intellectual Property Rights, he also has hands-on marketing and business development experience
Convergence advisers:
John Tregaskes: a specialist Innovation Adviser focussed on operations management, business strategy and change, R&D and IP
Alison Miles: provides practical, hands-on support across a range of business issues including finance, IPR and Legal
Dick Stead: a High Growth Adviser focussed on providing impartial information, advice and access to services for growth and prosperity
Keith Hamshire: provides the strategic IT planning support and advice Cornish companies need to deliver against their objectives
Alan Street: brings clients his 25 years of senior experience in the development and commercial exploitation of new technologies
Justin Ramsay: has deep understanding of operational issues including finance, health & safety, legal, HR and quality management
Annette Morton: focusses on people with disabilities, female entrepreneurs, rural businesses and people from ethnic minorities to ensure that everyone has equal access to Business Link services
Martin Woods: advises businesses in all sectors on their environmental management, technology and Best Practice needs
Wayne Hackman: brings insider knowledge of banking and experience of running businesses to help clients overcome their current challenges
Rachel Cresswell: her role includes providing companies with support and information on finance, premises and business networking
Peter Cattermole: brings clients his sales and marketing expertise and personal experience of building a successful business from scratch
Brendon Westacott: helps companies with environmental issues including energy and waste management, carbon foot-printing, renewable energy, water management and ISO 14001 contracts.
The ERDF Convergence Programme invested a total of £4.6m in Business Link Broader Deeper Information and Diagnostics Brokerage.
For further information:
Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager for the Convergence Partnership Office
01872 223439 / 07973 813647
cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk
Ron Dyson
01308 485707
David Wilford
01672 564529 / 07790 774284
Editors' notes:
Business Link
Business Link is a Government funded service to help people start, run and grow businesses. The service provides free information, advice and support through a combination of a local telephone enquiry service, an extensive regional website, www.businesslinksw.co.uk and experienced business advisers. It is the primary single ‘access point' to link businesses to the local and national business support network.
The Business Link service is delivered by Peninsula Enterprise throughout Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Devon and Somerset, and has supported well over 43,000 people starting or running businesses in the region over the past year, achieving a satisfaction rating that approaches 90% and is continuing to climb. For more information, visit www.businesslinksw.co.uk or call 0845 600 9966.
ERDF Convergence Programme in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
With £6 million investment from the South West RDA and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Convergence Programme, Business Link has extended its support for the most innovative and ambitious firms or social enterprises in Cornwall and The Isles of Scilly. This additional enhanced service was introduced at the end of 2008 and fully complements Business Link's existing support activities for new and established businesses.
For more information, visit www.businesslinksw.co.uk/convergence or call 0845 600 9966.
