No business is exempt from planning and what better time to revisit priorities than New Year, with fresh resolutions for the future?

The latest survey from Business Link in the East of England reveals the resolutions of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in Hertfordshire:

1. For the majority, the focus will be on beating their organisations’ 2009 performance.

2. Business growth (be it the workforce, product range or premises) is second on the list of priorities.

3. The third most popular ‘must-do’ for 2010 is investing in a brighter future by developing the workforce through training.

Herts’ SMEs are largely confident for 2010, with eighty per cent optimistic for the year ahead. Just under half of respondents will be making fundamental changes to their businesses for the New Year, with the remaining respondents already confident in their existing ways of doing business. So here’s to another successful year in business in Hertfordshire.

Pat Smith, Chief Executive of Business Link in the East of England, said: “Open minds and fresh thinking are invaluable to business success, and the New Year is a good time to refresh plans and reconsider priorities.

“Resolutions are a good way to welcome and focus the New Year, and I encourage the region’s SMEs to start as they mean to go on with a positive outlook and aspirations for a successful year. Business Link will be on hand along the way to give free, independent and impartial support, to make sure that these resolutions aren’t forgotten by the end of January!”

To get in touch with Business Link, call 08457 17 16 15, visit Business Link in the East of England or email questions@businesslinkeast.org.uk

About Business Link in the East of England:

- Business Link… the place to go for business support

- Business Link provides information, practical advice and support to help

people to start, run or grow their businesses

- Our clients fall in to two main categories:

>Those running or working in established small and medium sized businesses

>Those who want to start their own business

Both client groups can access independent, impartial and, in most instances, free help and support from Business Link in the form of:

-Free one-to-one help from an experienced Business Adviser (established businesses) or Enterprise Awareness Manager (start-ups)

-Workshops and briefings on a range of business subjects such as business planning, sales and marketing, legislation, developing people

- Telephone and online support through our Regional Information and Intelligence centre

- Business Link East works with businesses and entrepreneurs in the 6 counties in the East of England: Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk - Business Link is a government initiative to promote enterprise, funded in the East of England by the East of England Development Agency