Better business support for East

Advisors and support groups in the East of England have pledged to work more closely together to help businesses get through the coming tough trading cycle.

A meeting was held by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) to forge closer links between business support services.

These services offer £30m of support to businesses in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire.

EEDA chair Richard Ellis said companies needed to know where to go for advice.

Mr Ellis said: "Businesses are in a time of need, and time is certainly of the essence for them.

"It is absolutely critical that when a company is looking for advice, they are sign-posted to the most appropriate form of support quickly and directly - without being sent around the houses.

"The summit was a big step forward for all those groups around the region, who share the common goal of helping businesses, to work together and offer an integrated service."