Website offers legal advice

Speaking about BERR's campaign to raise awareness of the free help available for small companies on their website, www.businesslink.gov.uk, minister for employment relations Pat McFadden said: 'For small businesses in particular every penny counts and they shouldn't have to put their hands in their pockets unnecessarily.'

The site contains numerous interactive features such as checklists for employing staff, downloadable written statements of employment and interactive tools for calculating staff holiday entitlement and managing new or expectant mothers in the workplace.

A large number of small businesses, including optical practices, may be paying for legal advice on employment issues that they could be receiving free, according to new government research.