A "pull your socks up" message has been issued to regional organisers of Government support and advice services by the Federation of Small Businesses, which has 800 members in Warrington.

Charles McKeown, north west regional policy chairman of the Federation, speaking at a conference at Haydock said: "A great deal of effort and money is put into supporting small businesses, but an unacceptable proportion of this effort has been off target in the past."

The conference was organised by the Federation, and brought together senior figures from the Warrington based North West Development Agency, other Government agencies, local authorities, banking and education.

It focused on the findings of a national survey carried out by the Federation showing poor support for Government-funded business services. Only a small proportion of north west Federation members were satisfied with the usefulness of the business advice provided.

Said Mr McKeown: "Much of what is currently presented is in written and spoken language that our members find hard to penetrate."

He called for less jargon and less "big business speak".

"I believe there has never been a better opportunity than now exists to make the changes needed" he said.

"The newly-created Small Business Services and Learning and Skills Councils, together with the recognition by the banks of the importance of small business, should create the right climate for success."

He said the Federation, with the support of all its 155,000 members nationally, was ready to play its part.

"I am confident that together we can move things in the right direction and sometimes this will be as simple as changing the way the support for small businesses is communicated. Government, banks and other associated agencies all recognise that small business is where job creation and expansion will take place in the future."

'Quit the jargon' plead the traders

Recognition