Entrepreneurs and companies in the West Midlands are to enjoy access to a new pool of high-quality advice and expertise in a major hi-tech innovation.

Following a hugely successful pilot scheme, Business Link in the West Midlands have unveiled ‘Select Supply,’ a 1,100-strong online database of specialists dedicated to boosting the region’s business performance. It provides a quality-assured list of professional firms that have a proven track record in delivering business support to growing companies and includes accountants, designers, marketeers, HR advisers and manufacturing consultants.

Kul Sanghera, head of Supplier Development at Business Link in the West Midlands, said: “We launched the database last year to give our companies easy access to the best advice and a wide choice of options, whatever their requirements. The first twelve months have been a huge success and we have grown the list from a handful of consultants to over 1,100, with the best matching service of any region in the country. What we have done in the pilot phase is fine-tuned the application process for our suppliers and created a smoother matching process for our clients.”

Business Links says Select Supply is centred on making sure companies and entrepreneurs can find the supplier that best meets their specific needs. This is achieved online by using an agreed set of criteria such as areas of expertise, cost, location, sector experience, previous track record and personal empathy. At the very least, the client will receive at least three different organisations and it will be up to them to select the one they would like to work with.

Kul added: “This is tailored advice in the purest sense of the word and last year 2,000 firms tapped into the Supplier Database to help with a host of issues – with 98 per cent recording a favourable experience. In order to make sure we have the best possible consultants on board, we have developed an eBay-style rating system, where companies can leave feedback on the service they have received.”

Business Link in the West Midlands believes that ‘Select Supply’ offers an excellent opportunity for local suppliers to win new work and inter-trade. While specialists are sourced from all over the UK, nearly 90 per cent are based in the region and are already starting to benefit from being part of the initiative.

Suppliers interested in becoming a quality-assured member of Select Supply can join the database by visiting www.businesslinkwm.co.uk