Figures released by Business Gateway, Scotland’s national business advice service, have shown that 92% of respondents to customer satisfaction surveys in the third quarter of 2009 were “very satisfied” or “satisfied” with the service they got.
It said the service had demonstrated a consistently high level of satisfaction throughout the year with quarter one and quarter two both achieving 89% customer satisfaction ratings.
Finance Secretary John Swinney said: “This feedback shows that Business Gateway is effectively meeting the needs and expectations of Scottish businesses.
“This is a vital part of the co-ordinated and comprehensive work under way across the public sector to provide businesses with advice and support in an extremely challenging economic climate.
“As economic recovery continues to be fragile, there can be no room for complacency and we must ensure that the excellent service standards businesses have come to expect continue to be consistently delivered.
“The Scottish Government will continue to work with local authorities to maximise the effectiveness of Business Gateway.”
Alasdair Kerr, on behalf of Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said: “This is very encouraging news and clearly demonstrates the added value provided for start-up and existing businesses in Scotland.”
Iain McTaggart, general manager at the Scottish Council for Development and Industry, said: “In a challenging economic environment it is all the more critical that businesses across Scotland have access to high-quality advice and services, both to deal with immediate difficulties and to ensure future growth.”
Business Gateway provides a business advice service to thousands of companies in Scotland’s small to medium enterprise community.
In addition, an online resource offering a library of business advice is provided along with a wide range of workshops through the year that tackle the major issues affecting Scotland’s small firms.
Members of the Business Gateway external stakeholders group include Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Business Enterprise Scotland, Federation of Small Businesses, Scottish Chambers of Commerce and the Scottish Council for Development and Industry.