Enquiries in January 2009 were nearly 70% higher than January 2008, as businesses sought advice on how to respond to the recession.
The quality of Business Link’s advice and support is highlighted in a 92% customer satisfaction rating. Despite increasingly challenging conditions, a separate survey also showed that Business Link customers are twice as likely to expect growth over the next twelve months, compared with non-customers.
As well as helping existing businesses, Business Link also helped 230 entrepreneurs from Milton Keynes to launch a business.
Peter Griffiths of Business Link said: “These figures show both the amount of work Business Link is doing to help businesses tackle this recession and the amount that this help is clearly needed.
"Business Link has evolved and adapted to provide services that suit the current economic climate, and South East businesses are responding – for example, more than 570 businesses have now taken advantage of the free Health Checks service launched in October last year.”
