Local businesses are encouraged to drop in to their nearest centre to find out more about the newly launched FS4B website and to learn more about the full range of help available from advisors.

The website has been completely upgraded and has more than 1,200 online business guides and numerous interactive tools and services and will be a key source of information for businesses.

The site brings together the available support from the Welsh Assembly Government, along with UK and local support schemes.

It means businesses can now access the whole range of support on one single website via the internet
The special sessions on Monday March 15th will run from 10.00am – 1pm when advisors will be available all morning to give virtual tours of the site and discuss any specific subjects with visitors.

It aims to help businesses save time and find help to meet their needs.

Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones is encouraging business people to make the most of the open sessions.

“With so much information, advice and services available to businesses, finding the right help can be daunting. It is our job to make sure this process is as easy as possible.

“The Welsh Assembly Government provides a vast range of information and guidance, and runs events day in day out to give people the confidence and skills to start up in business or help existing businesses grow.

“This new site aims to bring all this support together in one, easy to use site. It provides access to clear, simple information. We live in a digital world. Wales’s businesses increasingly operate online and it’s important that our methods of support recognise this.

“We appreciate that time is a precious commodity for businesses, which is why these informal sessions have been organised. It will provide them with the opportunity to drop in and get a wider understanding of the breadth of help available which could make a real difference to their business.”

The FS4B Regional Centre Service, which was launched in April 2009, is already a widely used resource particularly by small and medium sized businesses.

To date 2835 businesses have received business advice, 500 businesses have received specialist advice and more than 11,800 businesses have received information or have been signposted to other relevant business support.

The FS4B service is funded by the Assembly Government and designed to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes and across all sectors.

Trained advisors can provide help across the business spectrum – whether a potential start up enterprise looking for basic business help or an established company needing a specific package of support tailored to their individual need.

The help and advice can range from identifying how businesses can benefit from ICT to trading internationally, from developing a business plan to devising a marketing strategy, from managing finance to raising finance and how to manage a business in difficult economic conditions.