Britain's new small business supremo toured North Yorkshire and warned that he would sack Business Links which were not performing well.

David Irwin, chief executive of the new Small Business Service who visited Science City's Innovation Centre at York University and later stopped off at Business Link North Yorkshire in Monks Cross, told the Evening Press: "If necessary I will withdraw their franchise"

Many Business Links, including the Monks Cross organisation, should learn by the end of this month whether they have been successful in their pitch to take on the new guise of Small Business Partnership.

Those with existing contracts who win through will have their new status kick in from March 31, 2001, but Mr Irwin, who will have the ear of Prime Minister Tony Blair, will be determined to benchmark standards, especially for business advisers.

He said: "We are trying to re-focus the way in which business advisers work so they are acting far more as consultants, helping clients take a long-term view of their needs, perhaps three years."

It meant, perhaps, bringing in others from a business support network such as universities. "I have just been to visit Science City York, which is doing some exciting stuff and we could be practically linking for more businesses to the sort of services they can provide."

Should, for instance, a bottle-maker want to change the quality and composition of its glass the university could help.

Mr Irwin criticised Business Link networks generally for not developing a network of ideas, but suggested the co-operation developed in North Yorkshire should be an example to others.

He said: "On the assumption that what I have been told is true, then what I have seen this afternoon at Science City, York, and what you have here at Business Link North Yorkshire is a very good demonstration of how linkage, collaboration and partnership ought to work."

Mr Irwin welcomed the recent Budget announcement that £100 million would be made available to the SBS to plug the "equity gap" for small firms unable to raise sufficient private venture capital.

Already initial targets have been set for providing new venture capital in the regions, with the north east and Yorkshire aiming at £130 million by March 2004.

Mr Irwin said: "Very few small companies can grow quickly without external debt or equity finance. But deciding which is best for them is not easy. Availability of finance also varies across the country.

"It is one of my ambitions for the Small Business Service that we help to overcome these problems."

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