TWO organisations have been recognised for providing excellent advice for smaller businesses by being awarded specialist status.

Business Link Tyne and Wear and Biz-KIT Team are two of 17 UK organisations to gain Technology Means Business (TMB) approved centre status, showing that they have matched stringent criteria in terms of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and IT knowledge.

The programme recognising organisations which offer IT advice and services builds on TMB's existing network of 250 individually accredited advisors.

Fred Bamber, a TMB business advisor with Business Link Tyne and Wear, said: "Achieving approved centre status is a clear demonstration to our clients that Tyne and Wear advisors are accredited to high independent national standards.

"It provides an excellent benchmark against which owners and managers of SMEs can judge the standard of IT advice they receive from an organisation."