AN elite squad of business experts is on a special mission to help St Helens firms hit by the economic downturn.

The new Business Taskforce has been assembled by St Helens Chamber, to provide specialist support across a range of disciplines.

Six specialists – with more than 150 years of professional business experience between them – have individual expertise in marketing, health and safety, human resources, finance and ICT.

Funded by the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI), the team is aimed at established companies with growth potential.

John Decamp, business task force manager, said: “The idea for the task force came from the Chamber and St Helens Council working in partnership to do something positive for local businesses in light of the recession.

“Our broad objective is to support existing companies who are operating in difficult trading conditions so that they can continue to trade and provide jobs and opportunities for the local community.

“We provide specialised advice and support on any business issues that businesses are struggling with, particularly those of strategic importance to the business, for example developing their marketing strategy, or helping them to access necessary finance.

“Typically we will work with senior management in the business to help them to take it forward.”

The task force advisers are all specialists in their own field: John Mathias, marketing; John Hughes, health and safety; Vivien Rodger, human resources; Julie Dunn, finance and Simon Green, ICT.

John Decamp himself has more than 25 years of management experience.

He added: “This is about stimulating growth, protecting jobs and even creating jobs.

“It is also about preparing local businesses for any upturn in the economy and removing barriers to growth so that they are well placed to take advantages of the opportunities that come their way.”Funding is available for eligible businesses to enable them to work with third party consultants, if that is considered necessary, or to provide match funding for a ‘solution purchase’ that is vital in order for the business to move forward.

Kath Boullen, chief executive at the chamber, said: “Our aim is to enable our businesses to be as competitive and successful as possible so that they can contribute to the economic development of St Helens.

“We have spent time putting together a really experienced team of advisers who know the world of business inside out.

“If our Members have a business issue or concern, or they want help with taking their business forward, then they can be confident that we are here to help them in any way that we can.”