Almost half of small businesses said that any simplified government business support scheme must be targeted more at them and less at big businesses, according to a survey conducted by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).

The research found that 53% of small businesses say there is a need to remove the big business bias from all services. Half of respondents to the FSB survey also said they would prefer to have an independently tailored service geared towards the small business sector.

The government is currently rationalising business support services from 3,000 to around 100. The FSB believes that this is good news for small businesses that have struggled with the complexity of the current system, and in particular, finding the right service for them.

The FSB survey also showed that small businesses found that government services are not being branded correctly with 47% saying they were unaware of government-funded support services.

Colin Willman, FSB business support chairman, says: “It is quite clear that small businesses feel disaffected and alienated from the majority of government business services which, when they are aware of them, they see as being geared towards big business.

"The government needs to offer greater acknowledgement to small businesses and the specific challenges they face. This applies equally to those at a start up level, supporting those who wish to remain steady, and those looking for growth."