A city law firm has branched out and launched a support service for small and medium-sized businesses and start-ups.

Sameer Karim, managing director of Douglas Wemyss Solicitors, based in Friar Lane, Leicester, has helped launch the Business Advice Shop to fill some of the space left by the demise of the regional Business Link service.

The regional Business Link ended on Friday after falling victim to the Government's austerity measures.

A national online service and telephone line has been set up to replace it, although businesses have said the face-to-face service will be sorely missed.

Mr Karim said he had established the Business Advice Shop with seven entrepreneurs and business people from across the county.

He said the seven directors have been carefully selected for their entrepreneurial track record and business knowledge, which will enable them to help anyone accessing their service and expertise.

The directors include lawyers, accountants, young entrepreneurs, financial advisers, marketing and branding specialists and business restructuring and recovery specialists – who are giving their time for free to up-and-coming entrepreneurs and business start-ups.

Mr Karim, whose office was named Leicestershire Law Firm of the Year 2011, said: "Through the Business Advice Shop, we will provide the Leicestershire business community with access to one-to-one business support, mentoring and coaching, attendance to workshops and help with funding.

"We want to make it possible for up-and-coming businesses to have access to our full range of supporting services – we want to encourage interaction between businesses in their early stages and those that are established to provide an interactive forum for businesses in Leicestershire to support each other."

He said the advice shop would offer an affordable range of support, either through the directors or experienced associate advisers, adding that a number of former Business Link advisers had already joined the team.

The service will include e-newsletters and supporting material, and invitations to seminars, workshops and mentoring in The City Rooms, in Leicester city centre.

The Business Advice Shop website was launched on Friday to coincide with the closure of Business Link's face-to-face service.

help@businessadviceshop.co.uk