YORKSHIRE Bank and its sister business Clydesdale Bank have launched an online support hub for small firms.

The service has been set up with the Forum of Private Business, the leading not-for-profit business support organisation.

The hub provides owners and managers of small business with specialist advice, help and resources covering key aspects of running a small business.

The service provides help for people in seven key areas – finance, law, development, purchasing, human resources, health and safety and communications.

It covers issues such as tax returns and debt recovery, credit control, monthly management accounts, regulations and legislation, networking, PR, recruitment and discipline and grievance procedures.

The new hub offers a one-stop business support service aimed at saving small businesses money through expert advice and guidance.

Small businesses can choose the individual elements to help their business grow and different levels of support depending on their size and needs.

Details of the new hub can be found at http://www.cbonline.co.uk

Gary Lumby, director of small business banking at Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks, said: “We are delighted to launch this new business support hub with the Forum of Private Business. Their knowledge and experience is a fantastic resource for small businesses.

“This new service supplements our existing proposition well and underlines our belief that for small businesses banking is about so much more than money – it is about knowledge, advice and contacts.”

Phil Orford, chief executive of the Forum of Private Business, said: “Whether they are start-ups or more established firms, research shows that businesses whose owners seek support are much better able to survive and grow than those struggling along on their own.

“In the modern world, it is simply not relevant to prescribe what support we think a business should require. That’s why we are delighted to be working with Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks to help provide customers with a range of business support services built around a firm’s specific needs.”