A regional business support service, which is being axed later this year, will focus its efforts mainly on holding workshops for new entrepreneurs and growing businesses.

Business Link Yorkshire is set to disappear as part of the Government’s new plans for business support services.

All regional Business Link services will end on November 25 and be replaced by a national website and contact centre. These will be the main information points for small and medium-sized firms and new start-ups.

Business Link Yorkshire will soldier on until then, with a reduced staff of 95, which means it will no longer be able to deliver a range of face-to-face support to individual companies and entrepreneurs.

Bob Styring, BLY regional director, said it planned to make the best of its reduced circumstances with events and workshops playing a central part in its remaining activities.

He said: “While we will be unable to provide the range of services that we have done in the past, a wide range of events will offer practical and useful support for businesses on a number of critical subjects.

“Our original contract with Yorkshire Forward, the regional development agency, ran until March. The good news is that Yorkshire Forward has been able to provide limited funding to enable Business Link Yorkshire services to continue until November 25 and bring us into line with the rest of the network.

“That will enable us to continue providing valuable support for businesses up to that date. Our aim is to create a legacy that can be carried on by other organisations such as chambers and local councils.”

Mr Styring said that over the past two-and-a-half years, around 20,000 businesses in the Bradford area had used Business Link, including 1,500 that had received individual support. Events had attracted 6,000 delegates from the district.

“Bradford has provided a major shop window for Business Link Yorkshire activities. We would hope that, working with the new Local Enterprise Partnerships, chambers and councils, we will be able to build on what we have achieved,” said Mr Styring.

The Prime Minister last week announced reforms to the way start-ups and existing small and medium-sized businesses can access the information and business advice they need.

Ministers announced measures to help new entrepreneurs and the growth of existing small firms, including expanding the scope of a fund to help create up to 40,000 new businesses by 2013, doubling the original target.

The New Enterprise Allowance will help unemployed people looking to start their own business. It will be available to people who have been claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance for more than six months.

It will provide access to business mentoring and offer financial support of up to £2,000, including a weekly allowance for up to 26 weeks and access to a start-up loan.

There is also more focus on private sector provision of business information, guidance and advice.

The businesslink.gov.uk website will provide information and tools for start-ups, notification of public procurement opportunities; information to help businesses with tax issues; clearer information on Government regulation and a national contact centre.

Ministers also want a network of at least 40,000 experienced business mentors offering practical advice to existing businesses and new entrepreneurs.

Helen West, chief executive of Business Link Yorkshire, said: “The announcement confirms the plans that we have been developing with Yorkshire Forward over the last couple of months. We are delighted that we now have clarity and certainty about the Business Link service for this year and that we now have a contract to continue providing business support across the Yorkshire region.

“All existing customers will continue to be supported through until the end of March 2011. From April, we will be delivering a streamlined service that will continue to offer support for businesses and start-ups across Yorkshire.”

Recent uncertainty about the future of the Business Link service had led to a reduction in businesses coming forward for support, but numbers had increased dramatically since the New Year.

The streamlined service from April 2011 will include a regional call centre and information service (08456 048048) – responding to queries from trading businesses and new start-ups.

This will also be supported by a programme of seminars and events for businesses on topics such as sales strategies, customer service, selling to the public sector and building a better business.

Opportunities will also exist for businesses to have a one-to-one consultation with a business adviser at the events or through local surgeries and clinics.

Helen West said: “Business Link Yorkshire will continue to work closely with partners and intermediaries including local authorities, membership organisations, banks and other providers of business support to ensure the service addresses local priorities and to ensure an effective transition to the new arrangements next year.”

The events programme in Bradford will kick-off with a workshop on customer service on January 26 and one on developing online networks on January 31, both at the Great Victoria Hotel.