ICT companies across the region can still benefit from a host of expert business advisory services from Business Link West Midlands (BLWM), despite news of budget reductions affecting some services.

Services available include workshops, training programmes and face-to-face advice and mentoring to help businesses start-up, develop and grow. A company that knows first-hand the benefits of BLWM is KPI Business Services, an ICT consultancy offering SEO training and internet marketing services, based at the Hartlebury Business Centre, in Shrewsbury.

Graham Loosley, a Trainer and Consultant at KPI, said: "Not only have we been in contact with Business Link for several years ourselves, but we have also delivered dozens of IT training courses for companies that have benefitted from its services.

"At one recent event we delivered, at Molineux, all of the attendees had received support from Business Link programmes, like the Leadership and Management scheme. With the range of advice services available from Business Link and the fact that it’s totally free, it’s a great service for SMEs to tap into."

ICT firms from across the region can access a range of services, including:

· Innovation Advisory Service – free two-day consultancy on commercialisation of innovative ideas, products or services

· Business Transformation – up to five days of free business mentoring for high growth businesses and start-ups

· Improve your Resource Efficiency – a free two-day resource efficiency review for businesses with a significant use of energy, water, raw materials etc (available where significant savings are likely).

A small number of grants are still available from BLWM for Social Enterprise activity, or via the Director Development Programme (DDP) and Leadership and Management (L&M) funds to develop business management skills.

Businesses can access a broad range of services and information just by calling BLWM, with business management advice being the most common reason to make contact. Training information is second on the list, while BLWM event attendance, financial queries and ICT issues complete the top five queries.

In total, last financial year, businesses helped by BLWM added more than £185m to the value of the regional economy - so for every £1 invested, they generated £9.63 for the West Midlands economy. That kind of positive growth shows why 92% of BLWM’s customers were satisfied with the service.

So, whether you are looking for one-to-one business advice, a free seminar on how to turn your innovative ideas into a profitable business or more information about our range of programmes, we can help. Visit www.businesslinkwm.co.uk or call 0845 113 1234.