Autumn Statement results in cancelled Business Support

On Black Friday we learned that the government was cancelling the Business Growth Service with immediate effect (from 1st Dec 2015 – except that projects already in train will be honoured) following a significant budget reduction for BIS in the autumn statement.

BGS targeted growth potential Enterprises with an impressive (and recently reshuffled) suite of business support options. Everything from Innovation, IPR, Finance, Business Development, Manufacturing Support, Export and other common growth challenge solutions were on offer. Many of these services have been delivered through highly skilled freelancers and consulting/ coaching businesses with quality controls in place which meant that the government’s expenditure was well leveraged and well spent.

Perhaps the most surprising aspect is the immediacy of the action as businesses planning to join were left out in the cold in terms of accessing subsidised support.