Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has launched a support website for businesses with the aim of retaining spending within the regional economy.
The new website has been designed to make it quick and easy to find professional advice that will help local businesses to stimulate growth and better navigate the available range of publicly-funded support.
The website, called AdviceFinder.co.uk, is entirely free-to-use and helps users to find business advisers active in the local economy through an online “matchmaking” service. The online service was developed through consultation with LEP partners in local authorities, various Chambers of Commerce, and professional advisers, as well as local businesses in order to best suit their requirements.
Through widespread access to a broad database of business specialists, the LEP aims to retain as much spending on professional services in the City Region economy as possible: the current expert estimates show that every year millions of pounds are spent outside the region on services which could easily be sourced by local firms.
Speaking at the launch at No 1 Mann Island yesterday, LEP executive director Mark Basnett said:
“One of the key challenges facing companies is finding the right guidance from organisations which understand their specific challenges.
“Our professional services community is bursting with expertise in a broad spectrum of sectors. There’s a wealth of knowledge available here and we want to make it easier for business owners to find this expertise and, where appropriate, retain that spending locally.”
He added:
“AdviceFinder.co.uk bridges the gap for companies looking for local suppliers. It’s designed to cut the time and resources businesses spend on finding the support they need and simultaneously give a boost to the local economy.”
Advisers listed on the site will typically provide the first hour of advice free of charge to small local firms seeking their services through the AdviceFinder system.
The system features “review” functionality, allowing businesses to share feedback and rate the advisers available.
Words: Peter Cribley