NEW Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership has launched a new website, claimed to be the first of its kind in the country, to help entrepreneurs and small businesses access the help and information they need to set up and grow their enterprises.

The site – at www.bizinfoportal.co.uk –brings together hundreds of different sources of information about locally-based support on offer to businesses, ranging from finance and exporting to resource efficiency and contract opportunities.

Andy Wood, chairman of New Anglia LEP, which covers Suffolk and Norfolk, said: “Research shows that if businesses take advice they are more likely to succeed.

“Axing of the regional Business Link service has left a large hole in the provision of information for business. However the ending of the regional Business Link service means that it is increasingly hard for people to navigate the business support landscape.

“Businesses simply don’t have the time to trawl through different websites, which means they are missing out on the help that is out there.

“Our web portal is free to use and pulls together hundreds of different sources of locally based information and provision alongside national sources of information, and helps users find what they really want.

“Small and medium sized enterprises are the lifeblood of our economy and the web portal will be a powerful tool for them to grow.”

John Dugmore, chief executive of Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, said: “This is an important business development tool for businesses in the New Anglia region. Suffolk and Norfolk Chamber teams will certainly be encouraging our members and the wider business community to take full advantage of the portal to support their business.”

“Small businesses are the engines of the economy”, added Chris Soule, chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), Suffolk. “The portal will provide important fuel for small businesses in Suffolk helping them to be more agile in find the information they need.