COUNCIL bosses have urged businesses to sign up to a primary authority partnership which provides companies with advice on a range of issues.

The latest company to enter into the partnership is Birchwood-based Certas Energy, one of the largest independent fuel distributors in the UK.

Cllr David Keane, executive board member for environment and public protection, said: “Through primary authority partnerships the council is able to give more consistent regulatory advice and enforcement for areas such as trading standards.

"The advice that we can give under the scheme also gives a business a level of legal protection and we can support on regulatory matters that protects those businesses in the event of any future regulatory disputes and assists them in making sure that any policies that they implement do not breach the law."

Since its launch, Primary Authority has provided support to more than 1,900 businesses who are in partnerships with nearly 140 local authorities across the country.