Small firms in Sussex will soon be able to benefit from an online scheme giving them a personal trainer who will offer business advice and guidance.

Trade minister Nigel Griffiths announced the initiative during a visit to Brighton where he addressed the Institute of Small Business Affairs conference.

The scheme, supported by £325,000 of Department of Trade and South East England Development Agency (Seeda)

funding, will mean fledgling businesses will be paired with expert advisers, such as existing business owners, ex-company directors and Business Link advisers.

Due to start in January, it will operate with the DTI's Small Business Service in the South-East working in partnership with Business Links, Learning and Skills Councils, universities, trade associations and enterprise agencies, accountants, banks and professional bodies.

The partnerships will deliver the recruitment, training and matching of mentors with companies and provide web support and evaluation of the programme.

Companies will be chosen from startup and early growth small businesses, referred by Enterprise Hubs, Enterprise Gateways, Business Links, Enterprise Agencies, Princes Youth Business Trust and Learning and Skills Councils.

A DTI spokesman said: "The e-mentoring scheme will combine the immediacy of the internet with hands-on expertise to provide a helping hand to small businesses.

"Sussex is an ideal area for the pilot scheme as it boasts an excellent base of advice.

"Current satisfaction rates with Business Link advice are running at 86 per cent for the region, above the 80 per cent target set by the Government."

Mr Griffiths outlined other Government support for the region's small firms, including:

£30 million funding in 2002/03 for the
Business Link Organisation, the one stop shop providing small firms with advice.

A target of 53,000 South-East
businesses to be assisted during 2002/03.

Fifteen Sussex neighbourhoods to be
designated as enterprise areas - localities targeted for special help and investment.

The status will allow new firms to bypass various planning rules and escape stamp duty on properties.

Figures published last week by the Treasury showed Brighton and Hove's rate of business start-ups per 10,000 people was 44.4 compared to a national average of 38.6.