I am delighted to announce that ELBP has secured further LDA, Local Authority and private sector funding to enable continuation until March 2011.

Over the last two years ELBP has outperformed against all LDA targets, registering almost 2,900 businesses and helping them to secure 2,219 contracts totalling almost £40 million. Small to medium enterprises (SMEs) have benefited most with the majority of the contracts (88%) valued at less than £10,000.

ELBP has worked to ensure that businesses are ‘fit to supply’ and have relevant policies in place to be in an even better position to win contracts. We exceeded this target by 128% with 1,309 companies meeting this criterion. SMEs have been supported through events, workshops, seminars and one to one specialist support. Businesses Supported was a key objective for the project and ELBP beat this target by 10%, supporting 2,410 companies. This performance ensured the go ahead for the project and, although our team is smaller, we will continue to provide a wide range of services on both a one to many and a one to one basis.

The focus will be on increasing business opportunities in both the private and public sectors. Our Business Development Managers (BDM), will concentrate on helping SMEs to improve their business readiness including policy writing (health and safety, equal opportunities and diversity, quality assurance and environmental), assistance with accreditation, bid/PQQ/ITT writing, workforce development, pitching & presenting, as well as personal development. Where appropriate, we will even arrange free external 1-2-1 specialist consultancy and provide access to Graduate Interns to assist SMEs with tasks they just haven't got time to do.

So don’t delay, if you haven’t registered with ELBP call us now and if you need some training or more direct help call or email us on: Tel: 020 7537 6480/Email: abad.uddin@elbp.co.uk

Gay Harrington
Director, ELBP