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A recent survey by EnterQuest highlighted the importance of independent advice to owners and directors of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). 80% of business owners said they sought help from other business owners, and 72% used contacts in business networks. However, only 36% used a local enterprise agency or support agency.The weakest reported skill was in sales and marketing, with one in three business owners saying they were quite weak or very weak in this area.

This report confirms what UKBA^TM (UK Business Advisors) have been saying for some time, that true independent advice is difficult to come by, but can be absolutely critical to the success of an SME. It is important that any advisor is actually a specialist in their specific field. Companies that claim to provide across-the-board business advice from a single adviser rarely provide much added value.

All UKBA^TM advisers run their own business, so “know what it is like” to be a business owner; and most of their work comes from networking and referrals from other customers and businesses.

Bob Francis, a Sales and Marketing specialist within SGBA (part of UKBA) said, “I see companies needing help all the time. If it is sales and marketing help, then I can provide it personally. However I also know I can call on an extensive network of many real experts in their field to address each company’s specific issues. In these times of tight financial management, getting the right advice quickly and cost-effectively can make all the difference”

For full details visit the SGBA website www.sgba.co.uk or contact Bob Francis at SGBA on 01903 784651

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A recent survey by EnterQuest highlighted the importance of independent advice to owners and directors of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). 80% of business owners said they sought help from other business owners, and 72% used contacts in business networks. However, only 36% used a local enterprise agency or support agency.The weakest reported skill was in sales and marketing, with one in three business owners saying they were quite weak or very weak in this area.

This report confirms what UKBA^TM (UK Business Advisors) have been saying for some time, that true independent advice is difficult to come by, but can be absolutely critical to the success of an SME. It is important that any advisor is actually a specialist in their specific field. Companies that claim to provide across-the-board business advice from a single adviser rarely provide much added value.

All UKBA^TM advisers run their own business, so “know what it is like” to be a business owner; and most of their work comes from networking and referrals from other customers and businesses.

Bob Francis, a Sales and Marketing specialist within SGBA (part of UKBA) said, “I see companies needing help all the time. If it is sales and marketing help, then I can provide it personally. However I also know I can call on an extensive network of many real experts in their field to address each company’s specific issues. In these times of tight financial management, getting the right advice quickly and cost-effectively can make all the difference”

For full details visit the SGBA website www.sgba.co.uk or contact Bob Francis at SGBA on 01903 784651