Rebecca Harris MP supports the work of Business Debtline – a charity-run service offering free impartial debt advice to small businesses and the self-employed. Small business owners in Castle Point who are concerned about their finances could benefit from free advice and guidance from Business Debtline.

The service, which has recently launched its #BacktoBusiness campaign to help businesses start 2017 on a stronger financial footing, can offer support for issues ranging from managing cashflow and budgeting, to business rates and utility bills. Business Debtline helps around 30 small businesses a year from the Castle Point local authority area by phone, but says that many more are likely to be struggling without seeking the free advice that could help resolve their financial difficulty.

Energy debts are among the issues that small business owners seek help over from Business Debtline, with the organisation working increasingly with Energy UK and energy companies to support these individuals. 

Rebecca, who supported Business Debtline at an event organised by Energy UK this week in Parliament said:

“It’s vital that small business owners and self-employed people in Castle Point get the proper support they need to keep trading when times are tough. These enterprises make up a significant part of our local, and national, economy, so their success really is crucial. This is why I’m supporting the work that Business Debtline does in providing free advice to those businesses in our area that need it most.”

Joanna Elson, chief executive of the Money Advice Trust, the charity that runs Business Debtline, said:

“Business Debtline is unique as the only free and independent debt advice service for small businesses in the UK, and each year our advisers help more than 50,000 small business owners to resolve problems with business and personal debts.  However, we know that there are many more small business owners who would benefit from the advice we provide. Our message to any small business in Castle Point who is struggling to cope is to seek free advice as early as possible. The sooner any problem is confronted, the quicker and easier it will be to address.”

Any small business owner in Castle Point who is struggling to cope can seek free advice from Business Debtline at www.businessdebtline.org or by calling 0800 197 6026.