The Department for Education and Employment has created a new 'business' area of its website which is intended as a pilot exercise in talking directly with small businesses.

Commenting on the initiative, David Blunkett said "I want to improve and increase dialogue between my Department and small businesses and, importantly, between small businesses themselves. I am convinced that we have information about the development and transfer of learning and skills that could transform your businesses. I am equally convinced that you have insights which could help improve our policies."

At this stage, three online forums for businesses have been created:

• Announcements from DfEE - allows the Department to inform businesses about relevant aspects of its work
  
• Feedback to DfEE - enabling businesses to make comments to the Department about its policies and services and their impact on small businesses
  
• Business-to-Business Collaboration - a forum for businesses to share information, best practice and problem solving among themselves.

Participation in the forums is restricted to selected invited SMEs, but anyone can visit the forums and read the current postings.