Slough Borough Council’s leading economic advisor has been given the opportunity to play a key role in supporting local businesses following his nomination to the National Business Link Strategy Group (BLSG).
Rafiq Chohan, assistant director of Slough economic development and inclusion, will sit on the BLSG as a representative of the Chief Economic Development Officers’ Society (CEDOS), where he holds the position of vice-chair.
The BLSG provides strategic advice to Business Link, a government support service for businesses of all sizes. The group monitors performance to ensure it meets the needs of local businesses and Rafiq’s involvement will offer a local authority perspective.
The BLSG includes organisations such as the Confederation of British Industry and the Institute of Directors as well as the Federation of Small Businesses and the British Chamber of Commerce.
In Slough, the council has already been working closely with Business Link in its pledge to support local businesses. A seminar was held in March to inform small and medium enterprises (SME) about the range of support available for surviving the recession, with more than 100 attendees.
The seminar aimed to create peer-to-peer networks to promote best practice amongst SMEs, as well as promoting business support and assisting with access to funding and sales and marketing support.
Rafiq said: “I’m extremely privileged to represent CEDOS at the Business Link Strategy Group at a time when support for businesses is so important.
“The relationship between local government and the BSLG is an extremely important one. As a member I will be looking at what local authorities and other agencies can do to support and develop local businesses.
“It’s important we consider these specific difficulties that may fall on small businesses.
“Local authorities have a responsibility for the economic wellbeing of their area and by working together we can encourage unitary and county councils to support SMEs through this difficult economic climate.”
Slough Borough Council
