Help for entrepreneurs

[kappa84]

Ok, so you think about getting yourself into a business. I think you may find these organisations useful for starting up and running your own business, so I’ve made up a categorized thread which includes the following:


1. Training

Learndirect - Information and advice on courses and business training www.learndirect.co.uk
Training Pages - Directory of training courses in the UK www.trainingpages.net
New Entrepreneur Scholarship (NES) - A business training course incorporating mentoring and a start-up grant funded by government www.nesprogramme.org


2. Business support

Business Link - Government support, advice and information for businesses in England,most being provided free of charge www.businesslink.gov.uk
Business Eye - Government support, advice and information for businesses in Wales www.businesseye.org.uk
Invest Northern Ireland - Government support, advice and information for businesses in Northern Ireland www.investni.com
Startups.co.uk - General information on starting up in business www.startups.co.uk
The Prince’s Trust - Advice and financial support for young people that start-up a business but cannot raise all the funding they need www.princes-trust.org.uk


3. Forming a business

Companies House - To form a limited company or limited liability partnership www.companieshouse.gov.uk
National Business Register - To check availability of business names www.anewbusiness.co.uk

4. Business premises

Planning Portal - Information on planning permission www.planningportal.gov.uk
My Business Rates - Information on business rates www.mybusinessrates.gov.uk
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors - Advice on land, property,construction and associated environmental issues www.rics.org.uk

5. Market research and advertising

Data Depot - Demographic and market information for UK www.datadepot.co.uk
Kelly Search - Information on world wide products, services and company names www.kellysearch.com
Kompass – Like Kelly search www.kompass.com
Advertising Association - Trade association providing information, research and statistics about advertising www.adassoc.org.uk
Office for National Statistics - Statistics on the UK economy, population and society at national and local level www.statistics.gov.uk
Committee of Advertising Practice - Information on advertising rules www.cap.org.uk.

6. Tax, National Insurance and VAT

HM Revenue and Customs - Information about on tax, benefits, self assessment, tax credits,VAT, importing and exporting www.hmrc.gov.uk
UK Trade and Investment - Guidance for companies that intend to or are already exporting www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk

7. Health and safety

Health and Safety Executive - Advice and free literature on all matters relating to health and safety www.hse.gov.uk
Safestartup.org - Information on how to comply with health, safety and environmental regulations for start-up companies and small businesses www.safestartup.org

8. Patents, trademarks and copyright

Patent Office - Information about trademarks, copyright, designs and patents and how to register and protect them www.patent.gov.uk
Intellectual Property - Information on UK intellectual property and how to protect it www.intellectual-property.gov.uk

9. Employment rules

Acas - For enquiries and information on employment issues www.acas.org.uk
Department of Trade and Industry - Information on employment rules and regulations www.dti.gov.uk

10. Other government advice

Directgov- Easy way to access government services on the Internet. Links to information from central government and local council websites www.direct.gov.uk
Trading Standards Institute - Guidance on trading standardswww.tradingstandards.gov.uk
Office of Fair Trading - Guidance on customers’ legal rightswww.oft.gov.uk
Information Commissioner - Guidance on data protection www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

11. Legal information

Community Legal Service - Advice, information and helpline to help people with their legal problems www.clsdirect.org.uk
Law on the Web - Short guide on legal issues www.lawontheweb.co.uk
Lawyers for Your Business - Free consultation provided by a network of solicitors in England and Wales www.lawsoc.org.uk

12. Professional services
Search Accountants - Directory of UK accountants www.searchaccountants.co.uk
Solicitors UK - Directory of UK solicitors www.solicitors-uk.org.uk

13. Trade associations

Trade Associations Forum - Search for a trade association in your sector www.taforum.org.uk
Trade Fairs and Exhibitions UK - Listing of UK consumer, public, industrial and trade exhibitions www.exhibitions.co.uk

[kappa84]

14. Utility savings

LSI Independent Utility Broker - A free independent analysis on savings for commercial gas, electricity and telecom call charges www.lsiutilitybroker.co.uk

15. Banks

NatWest - Offers free business advice. The website also features business guides like marketing, finance, e-business and starting up www.natwest.com
The Royal Bank of Scotland - Offers free advice for small businesses. Its website features a small business clinic www.rbs.co.uk
Barclays - Offers support for start-up businesses, including Internet banking, seminars and factsheets www.barclays.co.uk
Abbey Business - Offers free banking for the first 18 months and general finance and business advice www.abbey.com
The Co-operative Bank - Offers a range of products and services for businesses of all sizes and at all stages www.co-operativebank.co.uk
HSBC - Runs a business banking programme providing low interest rates, free Internet banking for the first 18 months and business plan software www.hsbc.co.uk
Lloyds TSB - Business banking programme,offers support for raising finance, marketing and successfully managing a business www.lloydstsb.co.uk
Bank of Scotland - Bank of Scotland offers a range of business banking products, services and free information www.bankofscotlandbusiness.co.uk

16. Finance

Street UK - A Community Development Finance Institution that provides financial and business support advice to small businesses www.street-uk.com
Funderfinder - Provides software to help individuals and organisations search for available funds www.funderfinder.org.uk
Community Development Finance Association - Capital and support to develop wealth in disadvantaged communities or under-served markets www.cdfa.org.uk
National Business Angels Network - Directory of small scale equity investors www.bestmatch.co.uk

17. Debt advice

Better Payment Practice Group - Advice on getting paid on time www.payontime.co.uk
Business Debtline - Free confidential helpline for selfemployed people with cashflow and debt problems www.bdl.org.uk
National Debtline - Free confidential helpline for people with debt problems in England, Wales and Scotland www.nationaldebtline.co.uk
Equifax Plc - Can provide a copy of your credit reference file www.equifax.co.uk
Experian Limited - Can provide a copy of your credit reference file www.experian.co.uk

18. Networking

British Chambers of Commerce - Provide networking events, business training and information resources www.chamberonline.co.uk
Disabled Entrepreneurs Network - Networking opportunities and information services for self-employed disabled people www.disabled-entrepreneurs.net
Prowess - Training, networking and support opportunities for women in business www.prowess.org.uk

19. Benefits

Child Support Enquiry Line - Information and advice on child maintenance and maintenance estimates www.csa.gov.uk
Child Benefit Helpline - Information and advice on child benefits www.hmrc.gov.uk/individuals/tmachild-benefit.shtml
Citizens Advice Bureau - Information and advice on benefits www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/life/benefits.htm

20. Personal support and other useful links

Gingerbread - Practical and emotional support for lone parents www.gingerbread.org.uk
Shelter - Information and advice on housing and homelessness www.shelternet.org.uk
DIAL UK - Information and advice on where to find local disability services and organisations www.dialuk.info
Yellow Pages-UK business and services directory www.yell.com
Thomson Directories - UK business and services directory www.thomweb.co.uk
UpMyStreet - Local information including property prices, council tax rates,classifieds, a business directory and maps www.upmystreet.co.uk
Multimap - Street-level maps of the UK and Europe www.multimap.co.uk

And last, but probably the best in the world: www.google.com

[gkd_uk]

Some great info there - thanks