FEARS are growing for the future of a multi-million-pound Government scheme that has supported hundreds of Oxfordshire businesses.

The funding for Business Link South East runs out on March 31 next year.

Chief executive Graeme Sibley said: “There’s a period of uncertainty and we don’t know what the future holds.”

The organisation has been reducing its operations and has closed its Thame offices, with the loss of 75 jobs.

The South East budget was cut from £25.3m to £18.1m. Seven advisers cover Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

Mr Sibley said: “I believe the steps we’ve taken provide front-line support where it can have the greatest impact and give us and customers a clear focus for the future.

“We have a plan and we’re confident we can deliver.”

He is to step aside in December to be replaced by Laura Pelling, the marketing and customer insight director.

But Antony Beak, a former Business Link adviser in Oxford who recently lost his job, said: “This lighter-touch provision will significantly disadvantage start-up and small businesses that aspire to grow and make a valuable contribution to the local economy, but who cannot do so without the high level of support previously available.

“Regrettably, this also coincides with greater numbers of would-be entrepreneurs considering self-employment as an alternative means of income after losing their jobs.”

The operation was re-launched this month with a reduced service.

Start-up companies and those planning major growth will still have access to advisers but others will have to use a web-based service and a call centre in West Sussex.

The South East Economic Development Agency, which provides Business Link’s funding, will be abolished by March 2012.

The Government is introducing Local Economic Partnerships but it is not clear if these will fund Business Link.

Margaret Coles, chairman of the Oxfordshire branch of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: “I found Business Link very helpful when talking about my own business. It was good to get someone else’s viewpoint.

“I’m very hopeful about the LEPs doing some of the good things that came out of Business Link.”

ONE MAN'S STORY SHIRTWORKS, which provides screenprinting for clothing and embroidered items for businesses, has been trading for 25 years and has benefited from Business Link’s help.

The firm, which is based at Osney Mead, West Oxford, and has a shop in Cowley Road, used it to get support from Government-funded training schemes to improve management skills and to compile a list of consultants.

Managing director Arron Harnden, above, said: “Business Link provided a single source of readily-available information to use in a way that improved how we operated, managed our growth and helped us grow from a small to a medium-sized company.

“I know that we’re entering a period of austerity but I fear the Government’s slash and burn mentality is going to disadvantage the very organisations which power growth in difficult times.

“Business Link can provide the kind of help that small business often need to succeed. Perhaps, rather than lose it altogether, it should become leaner and fitter, achieving more with less.

“After all, that is what many will have to do in the private sector.”