To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for Services, Small Business and Exports of 26 February 2025, Official Report, column 857, what progress his Department has made on creating the new business growth service.

We have begun engagement and consultation with SMEs, business representative bodies, the devolved governments, local government, the Growth Hubs network and other key stakeholders to determine further details on the design, development and implementation of the Business Growth Service before its launch date this summer.

The Business Growth Service will simplify the government’s business support ecosystem, with locally led support underpinned by an improved online service. It will help realise the government’s Small Business Strategy, complementing the Industrial Strategy, Trade Strategy and Make Work Pay plans as part of a comprehensive approach to our Growth Mission.