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About Business Link

Main About Us page

About Business Link
Overview of the service
How to use the site
Timeline

About Business Link

Business Link is government's online resource for businesses.

It contains essential information, support and services for you and your business - whether you work for a large organisation or are on your way to starting up.

Simple to use, up to date and practical, Business Link is the first place to go to find guidance on regulations and to access government services. It also has a number of useful online tools, calculators, and best practice case studies; and provides access to funding options, as well as wider support.

How to use the site

The Business Link website helps you to find the information you need from government, comply with regulations and submit key transactions.

Content is organised into easy-to-navigate sections and is regularly reviewed to ensure that it remains relevant and up to date. It is developed in partnership with subject experts within government and relevant business-support organisations.

Here are just some of the things you can do on Business Link:

File your VAT and PAYE returns from our Do it online area
Create a personalised list of tasks to assist you when setting up your business with our Start-up Service - Opens in a new window
Search for public sector procurement opportunities using our Contracts finder service
Search our Business Support Finder - Opens in a new window for grants, loans, expertise and advice for which your business may be eligible
Advertise a vacancy on Jobcentre Plus via Employer Direct online

You can visit our Help section to browse help topics, ask us a question, give us feedback or find a contact.

Timeline

1992: The concept of the Businesses Link advisory service was established by the Department of Trade and Industry (now the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills).

2004: The Business Link website was launched to support the Business Link regional advisory service.

2006: Sir David Varney's Service Transformation Review recommended that Directgov and Business Link become the primary information and transactional channels for citizens and businesses (respectively).

31 March 2011: Regional Business Link websites in England closed and relevant regional business support information was moved to the main Business Link website.

01 April 2011: The migration of content and transactions from over 170 government websites to the Business Link website was completed, resulting in Business Link becoming the single, online government service for businesses of all sizes. This process began in 2008/9.

01 April 2011: Business Link's Contracts Finder service became the main source of public sector procurement opportunities with a value greater than £10,000.

14 November 2011: New services launch on Business Link to help people looking to start up, grow and improve their business.

25 November 2011: Regional Business Link advisory services will close and the Business Link website will become the primary place for businesses of all sizes to access government-funded business information and support. November 2011: Scheduled launch of contact centre to support the Business Link online service.