Britain's New Business Growth Service: Marketing Support for UK SMEs in 2025

After a very frosty reception to 2024's budget for small business, the launch of Britain's Business Growth Service (BGS) in early 2025 will be an important moment for UK business support. This new initiative addresses a critical gap in the market, where businesses have struggled to access cohesive government support, and could be essential to offsetting the impact that many have felt through 2024's budget, particularly around VAT taxes for employers.

The Marketing Challenge for British Businesses

Business and Trade Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, emphasizes: "We said we'd deliver change for small businesses, and that's exactly what we are doing... we need SMEs right across the country to be exporting, hiring, and expanding."

While this is exactly what you'd hope to hear if you're an SME - it doesn't mean much without an actual commitment behind it. And there's definitely a hope that this programme can deliver:

​Michelle Ovens CBE, Founder of Small Business Britain, notes: "A thriving small business community leads to a thriving country, so we look forward to working with the Government to further develop this initiative in 2025."

What UK SMEs can expect from the BGS

The new web-based platform launching in early 2025 represents a significant shift in how UK businesses access support. Currently, SMEs must navigate multiple websites, departments, and systems to find relevant assistance. The unified platform will eliminate this fragmentation, providing a single entry point for all government support services. This streamlined approach means business owners can quickly find and access the specific help they need without wasting valuable time searching across multiple sources - through which the UK government hopes to achieve the following:

1. Centralized Support Access

The "under one roof" approach fundamentally changes how businesses interact with government support services. Instead of trying to determine which department or agency to approach, SMEs will have a clear pathway to all available assistance. This consolidation means businesses won't miss out on valuable support simply because they weren't aware it existed. For growing companies, this visibility of all available support options could be the difference between stagnation and growth.

2. Local Delivery Model

By partnering with local and devolved governments, the BGS ensures that support is tailored to regional business needs. This localized approach means that businesses in Scotland will receive different guidance than those in Wales or Northern Ireland, reflecting their unique market conditions and regulatory requirements. The combination of local expertise with national resources ensures businesses receive relevant, actionable support that considers their specific operating environment.

3. Administrative Efficiency

The current 33-hour monthly administrative burden on small businesses represents a significant opportunity cost. By streamlining access to support and simplifying processes, the BGS aims to drastically reduce this time investment. For a small business, reclaiming even a portion of these hours could mean more time for strategic planning, customer engagement, or product development – activities that directly drive growth and profitability.

4. Strategic Integration

As part of the broader Small Business Strategy, the BGS will align with other government initiatives to create a comprehensive support ecosystem. This strategic integration means businesses can more easily access complementary services, from start-up loans to export support. The coordinated approach ensures that different support mechanisms work together effectively, maximizing their impact on business growth.

5. Enhanced Support Framework

The integration with existing programs like the Fair Payment Code, business rates reform, and export support creates a robust framework for business development. The £1 billion British Business Bank funding commitment demonstrates the government's serious investment in SME growth. This comprehensive support structure addresses multiple aspects of business operations, from day-to-day cash flow management to long-term expansion plans.

6. Increased Uptake by UK SMEs 

The fact that only 26% of SME employers sought external advice in 2023 highlights a significant missed opportunity for business growth. The BGS's accessible design aims to dramatically increase this percentage by removing barriers to support. For businesses that have previously found government assistance too complex or time-consuming to access, this new system promises to make expert guidance more readily available.

Future UK Impact

Drawing on successful international models, the BGS represents a streamlined approach to business support. Its focus on practical, local delivery while maintaining access to national resources suggests a system that can effectively scale with business growth. For UK SMEs, this means access to sophisticated support mechanisms previously only available to larger corporations.

Will the UK BGS be successful in it's goals? Well it's fair to say that there's currently a healthy dose of cynicism from the UK business owners - but there's one thing you can do to maximise your chances of a successful 2025, whether you plan to use the BGS or not:

Create your UK SME's growth plan today

As a marketing and business growth specialist, I'm offering a free consultation to help you maximize the benefits of the new Business Growth Service. Let us help you develop a strategic marketing plan that aligns with these new support structures.

Book your free marketing consultation today and ensure your business is positioned to thrive under the new framework.

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Source: Government Growth Service to save small business time and money, published December 7, 2024. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-growth-service-to-save-small-business-time-and-money