2011 set to be ‘similar’ to 2010

That’s the view of Laura Pelling, chief executive of Business Link South East, which includes Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes.

In her new year commentary, Ms Pelling said: “Every effort will need to be made to minimise waste and maximise efficiencies to compensate for the rise in VAT and the pressures on profit margins, and every opportunity for commercial development will need to be seized with greater determination than ever before.”

She said 2010 had been a “year where the evolving economic landscape has presented new challenges and new opportunities” and she added that 2011 would “follow a similar course”. Businesses would need to take advantage of the lessons learned over the past few years, she said.

Sales development and sustainable business growth will be the lifeblood of future economic prosperity, she continued.

Ms Pelling said business managers would require a “clear focus and a coherent strategy to ensure that their business has the agility and flexibility to take economic and market developments in its stride - without losing sight of its aspirations and the drive for ever higher customer service standards.”

Ms Pelling added that it is essential that “every encouragement is given to the new generation of entrepreneurs as they make moves to put their plans to start-up a new business into practice”. Their new enterprise and innovation is the bedrock of economic success, she added.

She continued: “There is no magic wand, and there is no secret ingredient for success. But, a progressive business is an expansive business that is prepared to break new ground, open new doors and develop new ways of doing things. They are the pace-setters and they are the businesses that will spearhead economic recovery and development.”

And she said Business Link and other organisations in the public and private sectors remained committed to the sustained growth of businesses.

Ms Pelling added: “Whether it’s a bold move into new international markets, an aggressive initiative to steal a march on their competition or an enterprising overhaul of their supply chain, our ambitious businesses need to know where, how and when to make their moves - and Business Link can help. We can put businesses in touch with the dedicated support they need to help them every step of the way.”

For more information on Business Link, call 0845 600 9006 or visit www.businesslink.gov.uk/southeast