A NEW partnership to help local businesses cut through red tape has been launched.

The Worcestershire Business Partnership aims to bring employers together with regulators such as trading standards, environmental health, Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise.

David Hood, of the partnership, said: "The idea is that by working together with the watchdogs, local businesses can comply more easily with all the regulations that affect them and avoid costly problems before they arise."

The county council, chamber of commerce and Federation of Small Businesses are all backing the move.

Business partnerships elsewhere in the UK have proved successful in cutting through the red tape and Mr Hood is keen to add to the 85 firms that have already signed up to the Worcestershire scheme.

"We're taking a very modern approach to business regulations," he said. "The days of 'them and us' are long gone. The whole point of the business partnership is that we will work together every step of the way."

Anyone who wants to know more should call David Wood on 07802 286105.