S*dding useless Business Link
Discussion
Just heard back from Business Link about the loan we needed to get through the next few months. Apparently they don't think we're going to generate enough work from the 50-odd leads we have gained in the last 6 weeks. Being associated with one of the UK's bigest law firms for the area we're in, as well as the biggest online community in the UK for our potential market isn't enough either! What's really sickening is that one of their own advisors told us to leave some info out of our application, as it would have had the wrong effect. Now it turns out if we had put that in it would have given us a better chance!
So after getting it wrong for a few months, and now getting it fantastically right and being busier since January than we were all of last year, they won't help us through the few months it's going to take to see the effect. It's just depressing to hear from the people who are supposed to support business in the area say what amounts to "we don't think your business will work" after jumping through so many hoops that I was wondering when I'd be asked to roll over and beg(they want more paperwork now to 'prove our arguments' - why do they have to constantly treat us like frauds?). And all from a bunch of ex bank managers who have never worked for themselves a day in their lives.
Now we have to go and get temp jobs to make ends meet and try to build a business while spending most of our day on something else.
Sorry for the long rant, just needed to get it out of my system more than anything else.
Regards,
Justin
>>> Edited by D-Angle on Saturday 6th March 13:40
>>> Edited by D-Angle on Saturday 6th March 13:41
So after getting it wrong for a few months, and now getting it fantastically right and being busier since January than we were all of last year, they won't help us through the few months it's going to take to see the effect. It's just depressing to hear from the people who are supposed to support business in the area say what amounts to "we don't think your business will work" after jumping through so many hoops that I was wondering when I'd be asked to roll over and beg(they want more paperwork now to 'prove our arguments' - why do they have to constantly treat us like frauds?). And all from a bunch of ex bank managers who have never worked for themselves a day in their lives.
Now we have to go and get temp jobs to make ends meet and try to build a business while spending most of our day on something else. Sorry for the long rant, just needed to get it out of my system more than anything else.
Regards,
Justin
>>> Edited by D-Angle on Saturday 6th March 13:40
>>> Edited by D-Angle on Saturday 6th March 13:41
In defence of BL, we have an advisor who comes in once every couple of months and just gives general advice, asks questions and makes us think.
He had a very successful career until ill health forced early retirement on him.
We have also had some good and very bad experiences with Cambs business link.
D.
He had a very successful career until ill health forced early retirement on him.
We have also had some good and very bad experiences with Cambs business link.
D.
IMHO anything run by Government to do with business is unlikely to be much use. They are much more interested in schemes and policies than in actually doing anything. I had a 'DTI' survey done once. A redundant ex-middle manager-type came round (paid by the visit) and asked me lots of questions. I answered them.
A week or two later the 'DTI Report' arrived in the post and it was simply what I'd told him, parrotted back in print!!!
Useless.
A week or two later the 'DTI Report' arrived in the post and it was simply what I'd told him, parrotted back in print!!!
Useless.
Thanks everyone for your help.
I have written to my local MP, I actually met him the week before so he might help.
Our BL advisor is quite good (only person I've met there who works for himself, coincidentally), but everyone in a decision-making positon is exactly as simpo describes - middle-manager types who can't get a job anywhere else, so have to spend their time justifying the job they have now at your expense. Trying to second-guess them is ridiculous, and shouldn't need to be done. Thats the problem with these review boards, show too much growth potential and they think you don't need the loan, show too little and they think it's a bad investment! The guy who phoned up to tell us also said apparently "we can't have the help because we need it"
leosayer, if you can find out the name of the journalist it would be much appreciated. I know the biz editor for the local rag so I'll start there
As for Cambs BL, that's good to know, our second business operates in Cambridge!
I'll let you know what happens, I'm not hopeful for getting the loan but we'll soldier on anyway. If nothing else I'll try and take a couple of them with me - they've p
d me off now! 
Regards,
Justin
:blinded, staggering, but still punching:
I have written to my local MP, I actually met him the week before so he might help.
Our BL advisor is quite good (only person I've met there who works for himself, coincidentally), but everyone in a decision-making positon is exactly as simpo describes - middle-manager types who can't get a job anywhere else, so have to spend their time justifying the job they have now at your expense. Trying to second-guess them is ridiculous, and shouldn't need to be done. Thats the problem with these review boards, show too much growth potential and they think you don't need the loan, show too little and they think it's a bad investment! The guy who phoned up to tell us also said apparently "we can't have the help because we need it"
leosayer, if you can find out the name of the journalist it would be much appreciated. I know the biz editor for the local rag so I'll start there
As for Cambs BL, that's good to know, our second business operates in Cambridge! I'll let you know what happens, I'm not hopeful for getting the loan but we'll soldier on anyway. If nothing else I'll try and take a couple of them with me - they've p
d me off now! Regards,
Justin
:blinded, staggering, but still punching:
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Industrial design, specialising in helping inventors get their ideas off the ground. That's the change in tack that's been so successful for us, we're getting loads of enquiries through these days. Other half has a temp job now, so only person here to do anything is me which really isn't working out at all. No time to follow up on these leads because I'm doing lots of silly admin
That's what really ticks me off, their decision is making it more difficult to stay afloat now. Going to send them evidence of all the enquiries in the hope that satisfies their paperwork fetish. Also have a friend who helps source finance taking a look at it for me.
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