Business Link is spearheading a new campaign to help Shropshire companies overcome the credit crunch.

The business support organisation has produced a series of guides, each offering advice and helpful tips on specific topics such as managing cash flow, employment law and marketing.

Together the guides from Business Link in the West Midlands form a toolkit designed to help firms not only survive the current difficulties, but to prosper, and a workshop is being planned for Telford as part of the campaign in the coming weeks.

Alison White, chief executive of BLWM, said: “We pride ourselves on providing the best possible advice to businesses and we recognise that during these difficult times companies need all the help they can get in order to succeed.

“With this in mind, our experts have designed a guide package that will not only help businesses protect themselves against the financial downturn but will also assist their growth plans.”

The campaign’s first guide, Managing Cash Flow, covers areas such as money management, budgeting, the causes of cash flow problems and sales forecasting. There are also tips on speeding up the flow of cash into a business, ensuring customers pay promptly and making money go further.

“In the current climate many small businesses can be left at the mercy of their customers and if the flow of cash begins to dry up it is imperative firms know what to do because regardless of size, when the money supply becomes scarce then people can’t be paid, supplies can’t be bought in and the whole operation spirals into failure,” added Alison.

“For this reason it is more vital than ever that companies recognise the importance of managing their cash flow correctly.”

Further guides will be published during the coming weeks with topics set to include working with a supply chain, resource efficiency and how to make money from the internet.

l Businesses can subscribe to the guides by calling 0845 113 1234, registering at the special microsite www.howtowithbl.co.uk, or via the main Business Link website www.businesslinkwm.co.uk