The Forum of Private Business (FPB) has launched a raft of new solutions aimed at helping smaller UK firms save time and money.

According to its own research, 66 per cent of businesses want external support – including someone to talk to for advice and information because unlike their enterprise counterparts, they are unable to pay out for a number of experienced directors in different fields of expertise.

As a result it has unveiled a range of tailored business solutions which it claims will support, protect and reassure small firms through the lifecycle of their businesses. These are finance director, legal director, HR director, health and safety director, development director, purchasing director, communications director and managing director.

FPB members are offered a number of membership levels, with introductory free of charge. There is intermediate, advanced – which has increasing levels of business support and related services – and expert, which offers a fully tailored business services package.

Phil Orford, chief executive of the FPB, said: “Like any other small business, the forum is adapting to fit in with a changing market. We have entered a new economic era and, in order to reflect that, we have made some important alterations to what we are offering our members.

“Our new support package is designed to help with every aspect of running an SME. It means that for a modest annual fee, even the smallest of businesses can call on all the back-office resources of a multi-national company.

“We will help with everything, from workplace legislation and tax regulations, through to purchasing and business development, leaving you free to get on with the day-to-day running of your business,” he said.