Business Support Simplification Programme (BSSP)
What is Business Support Simplification Programme (BSSP)?
In March 2008, the Government published ‘Simple Support, Better Business: business support in 2010’ to outline its vision for the provision of business support in the future.
In simple terms, it sets out to make it easier for businesses and entrepreneurs to understand and access the support available.
The region has been moving towards ensuring a more effective delivery of business support over the last few years. BSSP builds on the region’s progress on simplifying this support.
As the regional development agency facilitating BSSP in North East England, we are keen to work with partners to develop a regional vision for business support and to ensure the infrastructure meets the needs of local businesses.
Product Portfolio
BSSP aims to simplify business support by reducing 3,000 schemes to 100 or less across England by 2010. The Government has categorised business support areas into 18 key product themes. These are:
1. Business Collaboration Networks
2. Business Creation
3. Business Expertise
4. Capital Investment Grants
5. Debt Finance
6. Export Credits Guarantee
7. Financial Awareness and Capability
8. Getting the most from foreign direct investment
9. Innovation Collaborations
10. Innovation Finance
11. Investigating new overseas markets
12. Local Community Business Coaching
13. Preparing to export
14. Protecting the Natural Environment
15. Resource Efficiency and Sustainable Waste Management
16. Risk Capital Targeted at the Equity Gap
17. Shared Business Support Environments
18. Skills Solutions for Business
Engaging with stakeholders
The development of relationships and communication with various partner organisations and business representatives in the region is vital in delivering an effective business support infrastructure in the region.
The North East Transition Management Board plays an important role in helping to steer and facilitate BSSP in the region. The members of the Board are:
- Pat Ritchie, One NorthEast
- Jo Boaden, Business Link North East
- Neil Robertson, Government Office North East
- Colin Stratton, Federation of Small Business
- Andrew Sugden, North East Chamber of Commerce
- Gillian Miller, Learning and Skills Council
- Hugh Morgan-Williams, CBI
For more information about BSSP, please visit the BERR website or contact Chris Taylor on 0191 229 6607 or email chris.taylor@onenortheast.co.uk.
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