A NEW service to put people at the heart of Salisbury's 2,000 small businesses is to be launched by Business Link Berkshire and Wiltshire on June 11.

The Workforce Development Advisory Service is a new initiative, which will help small and medium-sized firms analyse their business issues and identify those which the development of their staff can best help solve.

The service will then find them the right training and development providers to enable them to implement their own development plans.

Small businesses in Salisbury will be invited to a launch event in the next few weeks to find out how they can access the government-backed scheme.

Business Link claims the new service will help businesses improve performance and productivity and tackle recruitment and retention issues.

The latest government research shows that two in every three employers who offered training over a 12-month period claimed it led to an increase in productivity.

Business Link is employing three more human resources business advisers, bringing the total to 13, to ensure the service is widely available.

The service includes a free business diagnostic session with Business Link's advisers, who will then identify key actions and help identify suitable training providers, including access to subsidised services.

The Workforce Development Advisory Service will include the well-established Investors in People programme, but will integrate a wide range of other development services including the IAG (Information, Advice and Guidance) service, management development packages, the specialist Small Firms Initiative for businesses of five to 49 people and Modern Apprenticeships programmes for young people.

Helena Allen, who has been appointed workforce development manager for Business Link, said: "Salisbury-based companies should be asking themselves if their staff are ready, willing and able to do the job at hand.

"This service will help SMEs improve their performance as well as make work a better place to be for employees.

"I know that SMEs are incredibly busy places, so the Workforce Development Advisory Service is designed to make it simple and practical for them to achieve their people development needs.

"The new service will provide major support to the growth of small businesses in the county."

The Workforce Development Advisory Service is funded by the Learning and Skills Council and implemented through Business Link Berkshire and Wiltshire.

Inquiries can be made through Business Link on 0845 600 41 41.