New tool helps Cumbrian businesses take stock and review their health

With 150,000 businesses closing down every year, issues such as financial management can be one of the biggest threats to the success of a small business. Owner-managers in Cumbria can avoid this with a new free tool from Business Link for Cumbria, helping them run a quick and easy business health check to identify key problem areas early on.

The Business health check tool, which was developed in association with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and the British Bankers Association (BBA), asks the user a series of detailed questions on issues that impact a business' cash flow - from employee costs and supply management to business administration and sales projections. Results are fed back with a status report on the business' overall operational health, outlining potential risks, areas for improvement and useful links for further advice.

Says Suzanne Caldwell, Contracting and New Business Manager, Business Link for Cumbria: "Whether you are starting up or looking to expand, businesses in Cumbria should always make managing finances and cash flow a priority. The new Business health check tool shines a spotlight into areas you need to focus on, making you aware of any problems, help avoid financial pitfalls and find new ways to increase profitability."

Clive Lewis from the ICAEW commented: "A lot of Chartered Accountants work with small businesses focusing on financial management, which is an area that can be daunting for entrepreneurs without specific experience. Working with businesslink.gov.uk has allowed us to combine our expertise to help businesses to make the right decisions in a vital but often complex area."

To use this tool visit www.businesslinkcumbria.co.uk/healthcheck

Author Information - Suzanne Caldwell

Contracting & New Business Manager

With experience in the automotive, materials handling, education, railway and hospitality industries, Suzanne joined Business Link over eight years ago as a business adviser.

When Cumbria was devastated by Foot & Mouth, Suzanne set up and managed Foot & Mouth Recovery support, and, following the severe flooding which hit Carlisle in January 2005, ran the Flood Recovery programme.

In her current role Suzanne has responsibility for communications, marketing, information services, the adviser team and all contracts and projects.

Suzanne moved to Cumbria fourteen years ago when she married her husband Alan, who is a director of a successful Cumbrian SME.

Her qualifications include:

* BA Hons in Industrial Economics from the University of Nottingham, * MBA from the University of Bradford Management Centre, * CIM Diploma in Marketing, * CIM Chartered Marketer - Suzanne was in the first batch of people ever to be awarded this status

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