* Henllan Bakery's Tom Moore.
Traders are supporting a scheme to reduce red tape for Denbighshire businesses – the first of its kind in Wales.
Denbighshire County Council’s Better Business for All (BBfA) project brings together businesses and the Council’s planning and public protection department to improve how regulation is delivered to save businesses time and money.
Covering environmental health, trading standards, licensing and planning, BBfA provides businesses with a simple, single point of access to free advice on business regulations.
BBfA also helps businesses access grant funding and signposts them to other support.
Cllr Hugh Evans OBE, leader of Denbighshire, said: “Better Business for All is all about removing the regulatory barriers to growth - and raising the economic competitiveness of Denbighshire.
“Regulatory services play an important role in supporting businesses. This support can provide businesses with an economic advantage, confidence to grow and thrive and reassurance they are meeting statutory requirements.
“We support hundreds of businesses every year and by improving the service, we can cut down on the amount of visits from regulators and the amount of time they spend on regulation.
“We believe this is an effective way of supporting businesses, and, along with a number of projects under our Economic and Community Ambition Strategy, is helping Denbighshire firms by developing the economy.”
Under the scheme, Council officers have received training to improve their awareness of pressures faced by businesses.
Tom Moore of Henllan Bakery, based on Denbigh’s Colomendy Industrial Estate, said Denbighshire’s help was invaluable during the building of an extension to its site.
He said: “Denbighshire County Council has been really, really helpful. If I need to speak to them, there is always someone on the other end of the phone.
“It is a good, speedy and professional service. When we speak to someone they come to see us straight away. They have been absolutely brilliant.
“It is beneficial for our business, it helps us grow a lot quicker because they are always on hand. The Council is just a phone call away.”
Colin Brew, of West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce, said: “Better Business for All is an innovative model which assists in removing those regulatory barriers that affect businesses’ ability to grow.
“Local businesses within Denbighshire will very much welcome this innovative approach which will not only provide a competitive standard of product that businesses can trust but also highlight and help remove the inefficient use of resources within the county.”
Mike Learmond, of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: “The FSB was pleased to support the Better Business for All scheme in Denbighshire - the first of its kind in Wales.
“Regulation remains a key concern for our members and it is encouraging we were consulted from the beginning and were able to feed in our members’ concerns to the scheme.
“We do need regulation, but it is about how that regulation is enforced. Businesses are feeding back that Denbighshire is looking towards a quicker and easier approach to help businesses save time and money. We are pleased Denbighshire County Council has taken the initiative on this.”
* To find out more visit www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/business
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