BLACKBURN and District Enterprise Trust offers the commercial world a comprehensive range of business support.

First set up in the early 1980s as an initiative of the then Chamber of Commerce, it continues to advise start-up businesses and provides help for smaller, existing firms.

Last month, it became a partner in Business Link East Lancs, which has been set up as a Department of Trade and Industry initiative.

Confidential business advice is offered by qualified business counsellors who have either run their own businesses or been in charge of profit centres of a large organisation.

They all have professional development programmes to ensure they keep up to date with the latest changes in the business world.

As well as advising on new start-up schemes, their assistance can help new business people consider opportunities, obtain, finance and plan the project. Advice on the preparation of business plans is available to enable business people to evaluate the viability of business opportunities and to judge 'what if' scenarios before making commitments.

Working with Blackburn Council's Economic Development Department, the trust can also offer help in locating suitable business premises.

It has the latest information on sources of grants and loans appropriate to your business idea and offers advice on the type of applications that are most likely to succeed in raising finance.

Health checks for existing business are available, too, which monitors a company's progress and then recommends steps for future progress.

This takes the shape of a structured review of the business, covering management, personnel, training, marketing, financial control and operations.

Counsellors with experience in overseas markets and, in co-operation with East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce and Industry, can offer advice and assistance in targeting export customers.

Other services includes credit control, financial management and control, credit checks and market research and marketing advice - which recommends the ways of establishing potential demand for products and services.

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