Business Link Losing it?

[Mr G]

We've had through the post today 4 A4 envelopes containing the workshop shedules for the next couple of months from business link. It is unbelievable 3 addressed to my partner, (girlfriend), and 1 to me. What a waste of time and money.
I've praised business link on here a few times and advised people to use them, "they will help you with all you need". Now I take that back.
Firstly, we have tried to go to the workshops but they get cancelled at the last minute. We are also at a stage now where we need quite a lot of help. Having discovered a new product we need a lot of advice to get the product marketed properly. I had been having meetings with a business link advisor up to a couple of weeks before Christmas but it has got to a point where I call her give her some information and request some help and then wait for her to call me back, it hardly ever happens.
It seems like another govenment funded party that is falling by the way side, it is just so frustrating.

Sorry, rant over:redface:

[stevon]

You'd be better learning about marketing yourself... David Jobber's "Principles & Practise of Marketing" is an excellent introduction to marketing, explains EVERYTHING in a very simple, but informative way.

[mkgreenfield]

Have tried to get help/advice from Business Link a few times and always found them to be totally useless!

I suppose if the Business Link advisors actually knew that much about running a successful business, they would be doing it themselves! Same with bank managers... have very little business experience yet they are the judge and jury for which businesses get finance.

[Esk247]

business link where very very good when i started my business 3 years ago, i had a mentor and everything..however...i also received the seminar and workshop booklet today and theres only one course in my area..the rest are in leeds or york really and when i attended the last event it was naff...the person doing the course knew less about marketing than i did..was a total waste of my time and everyone elses as we were given the wrong information and told to spend money on marketing that would only apply to mass market business..not niche market like most of the businesses that attended.

business link are still useful though..well..the website is atleast.

[Rienne]

I understand from having attended a Business Link seminar on funding a few weeks back, that there is going to be a massive reorganisation early this year. The government wants to cut down on the amount of different agencies and names under the "business support" banner. Someone will correct me no doubt, but I think the numbers were something like cutting from 90 odd down to 20 odd, and putting most things under the Business Link banner. It's a welcome move, but I also understand this is holding up the budget process which funds the mentors etc.

[silver]

Initially, I found Business Link seminars/workshops and networking events to be very useful. However, in the last few months I have been attending more industry (creative) specific events. I think Buisness Link do serve a useful function and hopefully they will be around for other new starters in the years to come.

Alison