City firms face cuts to support
A BUSINESS support lifeline has insisted it will continue to help Wakefield firms survive despite having to axe 17 per cent of its budget.
Business Link Yorkshire faces a 4.4m budget cut after the coalition government announced it will scrap Yorkshire Forward, the regional development agency which funds the service.
Up to 125 job losses are expected at the organisation, which has launched a three-month consultation over how to implement the cuts.
Business Link has already closed its Wakefield Office, where small firms could get face-to-face advice from experts, under the last round of restructuring a year ago.
Now chief executive Helen West has admitted its services will be reduced further, with vouchers issued to help new firms pay for help like consultancy and marketing and sales advice the first thing to be axed.
Mrs West said: "We have to make cuts to our service and inevitably this will impact on the number of people we employ, but our current plans are that all business services will be continuing over the coming months, with the exception of vouchers, albeit on a reduced scale."
She said voluntary redundancies were sought at the organisation, which was consulting staff over the restructuring.
Mrs West said: "Clearly this is a difficult and uncertain time for everyone and we are committed to giving everyone affected by this process the most professional and caring support available."
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Weather for Wakefield
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 10 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
