Local government: an unusual market for business information

Abstract

Local authorities need business information for a wide range of purposes, including fulfilling their enabling role, promoting local economic development, forging links between business and the community and carrying out their statutory functions. But their unusual needs present special problems for information providers. This article describes how the London Research Centre has set about meeting these needs, and how they have changed over the last decade. It gives details of the most common current business information applications, assesses likely future developments, and warns that vendors will have to tailor their approach carefully if they wish to take advantage of this market.