Surviving the economic downturn

The economic climate at the moment means that it is more important than ever for businesses to be able to access appropriate and targeted business support. The major business support agencies have both existing and new services that address some of the issues that businesses are experiencing and these go some way towards helping to protect jobs and save companies at risk. These dedicated Economic Downturn pages should help you find the help and support you need to keep your business on track.  

Most companies will be feeling the effects of the credit crunch so Enterprise First, Hampshire's enterprise agency, have put together some top tips  35kb to help small companies minimise the impact on their business.These tips are a good starting point for anyone who is worried about the survival of their business.   

Business Link offers  a free 'health check', which takes stock of where your business is currently and looks at what needs to be done to move ahead.  This is in the form of an interactive tool which helps you analyse key areas of your business' finance and administration with the aim of avoiding failure. It can help you work out whether your business could be in trouble, and shows how external business advisers can provide help and expertise. Visit Business Link's online business healthcheck tool to find out more.   (This tool can only highlight where your business could encounter difficulties. Its conclusion should be used as an indicator only and should be discussed with professional business advisers.) Business Link have also produced a new mini-site for businesses, called Real Help for Businesses

If you identify and tackle any problems early, you will markedly increase the chances of your business surviving.  The following pages have some useful advice and sources of help, should you need it:

• Finance help

• Know your customer

• Operations

• Redundancy support

• Training

• What else is the County Council doing to help?

• Useful links

Further information

Real help-for people and businesses  211kb  (a Government guide)

BBC's Downturn mini-site

BBC Hampshire Credit Crunch page to see the latest on how the credit crunch is affecting people and businesses in Hampshire