Business department to boost its website

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has reviewed and reorganised its website with the aim of making it more engaging.

Although the news has been dominated with government cuts, there has to be a balancing promotion of businesses and job creation, according to ministers. The BIS facelift has been designed to make the website more accessible to allow businesses to find the information they need easier.

In address to the House of Commons, business minister Edward Davey said, "In line with the cross-government channel strategy, content that provides practical guidance to small businesses has moved from the BIS website to the Business Link site, which is the official government website for businesses."

Access to online information was referred to in the government's Comprehensive Spending Review. While not referencing business assistance directly, the review paper underlined the use of the internet for public service delivery.

"The Government will use digital means, such as online and digital telephony, as the default option to deliver more of its services," the review paper said. "As a first step, this will be done for the initial application for Job Seekers' Allowance, new business tax registration with HMRC and key Driver's Licence services."

The creation of a 200 million network of technology centres, linking university researchers with business was announced this week. BIS will play a large part in fostering the necessary connections.

Business secretary Vince Cable said, "It is partly about removing government imposed obstacles to growth: onerous business taxes, red tape which suffocates small firms, and a slow oppressive planning regime."

For its part, the BIS website has expressed the department's aim of helping to support this new strategy by promoting innovation, enterprise and science to create an environment that will nurture the skills and opportunities required for success.