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Thousands of micro-businesses throughout the UK are to receive a helping hand on management and leadership issues, with the launch of a new free advice service developed by York Multimedia.

Despite the importance to the region’s economy of the large numbers of micro-businesses, most of them miss out on conventional management and leadership training, and are forced to “go it alone” when faced with important business issues.

Linda Florance, Chief Executive of Skillfast-UK , and a spokesperson for the Skills for Business Network which commissioned the project, explains: "Life as an owner-manager of a very small business can be pretty tough. All too often owner-managers have to try to “muddle through” on their own, because they just can’t afford time away from the business for formal management training. If we want our smaller businesses to grow, we need to support them properly – and that means finding alternative methods of helping micro-businesses to answer management questions."

In response to the problem, the Skills for Business network commissioned York Multimedia to develop www.solutions4business.info – a new website which acts as a “super search-engine” by providing links to the best small-business advice available on the world wide web.Instead of spending hours searching the internet for information on management and leadership issues, micro-business owners can use www.solutions4business.info to find answers to the most common questions all in one place. Comments Linda Florance, “The answers covered by Solutions4Business are based on the “need to know” topics that really affect small businesses – practical things like getting more sales, or getting the most from computers and IT. Of course, there is no alternative to thorough training, but if you need some help right now, this website could be the answer.”

James Houston, managing director of York Multimedia, added: "It's great to have been centrally involved in such a great project - one which really makes a difference and which could help thousands of businesses."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

1. Source: Small Business Service Analytical Unit, SME Statistics 2003
2. Skills for Business is an employer-led network consisting of 25 Sector Skills Councils and the Sector Skills Development Agency. Through labour market intelligence, the identification of skills needs at all levels, and its influence on the UK’s education and learning infrastructure, the network aims to increase productivity in business and public services.

3. For details of other projects developed by York Multimedia for the Skills for Business Network click here .