"We have cut through the myriad of confusing, conflicting - and sometimes ineffective - schemes to create a tighter, more targeted, evidence-based approach to business support." 

Patricia Hewitt 
Secretary of State 

A key part of DTI's work to deliver prosperity for all involves providing support to the businesses that help to generate the UK's wealth. Each year we invest around £1bn providing advice, information, grants and loan guarantees. Our aim is to use this money in a way that ensures the best possible return on that investment for the UK and makes a real difference to business. 

From April 2003 we are putting in place changes that will:

• increase the impact of business support by focusing on products that enhance and encourage innovation, enterprise, investment and skills - four of the recognised drivers of productivity;
• simplify the support on offer to business by moving to a smaller number of broader, more flexible products;
• dramatically improve the help available to businesses in choosing and securing business support by introducing a web-based Business Support Directory containing information on all DTI business support products. It also holds details of significant schemes available from other Government Departments. 

Through this approach we will deliver our vision: business support which makes a real difference to business productivity and competitiveness, which creates new opportunities and stimulates change, getting businesses further, faster. 

Use our new Business Support Directory now to find out what products are available to help your business prosper.