FIRST ASSIST AND EQUIFAX EMPOWER SMALL BUSINESSES
New Partnership Brings SMEs An Online Portfolio of Business Management Advice and Support
London, December 3rd 2004 – Equifax Ltd has launched an alliance with leading business-to-business health and wellbeing provider, FirstAssist. The partnership brings Equifax’s powerful online company information and business credit reporting service, Findout, to FirstAssist’s recently enhanced BusinessCare, a web-based package designed to address the needs of the SME market. This latest collaboration with Equifax strengthens FirstAssist’s commitment to the SME marketplace by enabling them to deliver a new level of information and protection.
Using Equifax's extensive database on more than four million UK limited and non-limited companies, Findout provides smaller businesses with instant access to a wealth of information. Findout offers a fast and simple way to verify that new and existing business relationships are financially viable. It also helps businesses confirm the identity of a company and its directors – providing protection from fraud and bad debt. Mirroring the philosophy of BusinessCare to help its users understand the complexities of business, Findout offers a unique online business education facility, which helps SMEs expand their understanding of business information and terminology. Now FirstAssist’s growing BusinessCare customer base can access this invaluable service by simply logging on to www.mybusinesscare.com.
Backed by professional 24/7 helplines, BusinessCare helps businesses manage the most common issues where expert advice and support is needed - employment, health and safety, commercial law, tax and VAT and employee well-being.
Andy Glynne, FirstAssist’s SME business manager, explains, “BusinessCare offers a guiding hand through the minefield of changing regulations, legislation and red tape that threatens to drown small businesses. Historically the SME sector has been left behind in terms of affordable daily support, but BusinessCare is changing that and with Findout, it is dedicated to empowering small businesses. The partnership with Equifax enables us to provide a far more rounded portfolio of services to help SMEs make informed business choices across all areas of the business.”
Nick Frazer, Head of Business Information Services at Equifax, comments, “We are delighted to be working with FirstAssist to help small businesses get ahead in today’s competitive market. Findout is designed to help SMEs effectively manage financial risks, enabling them to operate efficiently, safely and profitably. Through Findout, businesses can understand their own financial status and assess the financial situation of potential business partners, minimising bad debt and fraud risk.
“BusinessCare is the perfect complement to Findout, bringing SMEs a vital source of information and advice. We look forward to working closely with FirstAssist to ensure their customers benefit from the wealth of financial data Equifax has to offer – bringing knowledge and protection to small businesses.”
