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Conservatives are today (Thursday, 7th) announcing a complete review of Government business support schemes and quangos, including the Small Business Service (SBS) and Business Links. The review is to be undertaken by independent business experts, led by Doug Richard, Chairman of Library House and a former member of the BBC2 Dragons’ Den panel.

The review will examine the performance of existing schemes and consider how and when Government can best support businesses. The Government currently spends £2.6 billion on around 3,000 different schemes and initiatives. The National Audit Office has recently published a highly critical report of the SBS and Business Links and their failure to evaluate the effectiveness of the schemes they operate.

Announcing the review, Shadow Trade & Industry Secretary, Alan Duncan, said:
“The Government has created a confusing maze of money for businesses. It needs root and branch reform to ensure the UK is the best place to do business and that taxpayers get value for money.

“I am delighted that, with his experience and insight, Doug Richard has agreed to lead this work. He brings tremendous experience and I look forward to his team’s report on how we can best support businesses to start up, grow and prosper.”

 Doug Richard, Chairman of Library House and the Task Force added: 

“Both the quality and quantity of state support for business needs a complete rethink. The failure to provide effective support is both a waste of the taxpayers’ money and a lost opportunity to grow an entrepreneurial economy. A willingness to spend money is not enough.  I share the Conservatives’ ambition to make the UK the best place for new businesses to grow and therefore I am extremely pleased to lead this review.”