GLASGOW is home to an increasing number of new business start-ups but still many fail to survive the crucial first few years.

Navigating through the legal, financial and administrative obligations on a new business can be time-consuming and take away resources and energy that could be put to better use growing the fledgeling business.

The new Geniac service backed with more than £1m of government money has the potential to help these new and existing firms manage the balance between administration and regulation tasks and day-to-day business matters that benefit the company.

As well as providing jobs for newly-trained professionals to give the support, it has the potential to allow client companies to grow and take on staff as well.

Glasgow needs jobs and it needs a thriving small business sector to attract and retain skilled workers, so any new ideas that help firms grow and keep people in work has to be welcomed.

The First Minister said the idea was genius. Lets hope he's right and the investment bears fruit for many years to come.