Local Enterprise Partnerships
Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) are companies limited by guarantee, typically set up as partnerships between the private sector and local authorities, with support from central Government depending on their individual circumstances. They deliver business support services under contract, to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), to Business Links, to the Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) and, increasingly, to overseas customers. The agencies' key purpose is to promote economic regeneration by the setting up of small firms.
CLICK HERE TO FIND YOUR LOCAL ENTERPRISE PARTNERSHIP
Business Link
Business Link is the national business advice service in England. Use this site to get straightforward information for your business needs and to access a wide network of business support organisations.
Tel: 0845 600 9 006.
The Small Business Gateway
The Small Business Gateway is a service provided by the Scottish Enterprise Network and its local partners. It provides a single access point to a range of integrated services for businesses in Scotland.
Tel: 0845 609 6611.
Locate your local Gateway
Business Eye
Business Eye is a free, impartial information service for Wales created to find the answers to your business questions. Whether you are an established company, a new idea, a sole trader or an employer of hundreds, Business Eye is here to help and can put you in contact with support from the public, private or voluntary sectors.
Tel: 08457 969798
Locate your regional centre
Finance Yorkshire
1 Capitol Court
Capitol Business Park
Dodworth
Barnsley
S75 3TZ
Tel: 0845 64900000
Finance Yorkshire provides businesses across the Yorkshire and Humber region with funding to start and grow. The Fund provides seedcorn, loan and equity investments ranging from £15,000 and £2million, to help SMEs raise the funding they need alongside investment from the commercial market.
j4b
51 Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5BQ
The most comprehensive & easy to use grants information database. Research shows that 93% of businesses ignore the billions of pounds available. Why? Because information has been difficult to find... and companies gave up. Our mission is to help businesses everywhere of every shape and size find out about any grants, financial assistance, subsidies and help-in-kind that may be available to them. We strive to provide an easy starting point, with fast access to concise information that gets straight to the point - all from the privacy of your desktop. The website is continually updated by our full time research team, and our goal is to provide SMEs with a transparent, honest interface between grant applicants and grant providers.
Street (UK)
Studio 12,
Styleworks,
50-54 St. Paul's Square,
Birmingham
B3 1QS
Tel: 0121 230 1060
Fax: 0121 230 1061
Street UK is a micro finance organisation providing appropriately structured business loans to micro-entrepreneurs who are otherwise excluded from access to credit to enable them to develop their businesses.
The Investment Readiness Programme
The Investment Readiness Programme is part of the national initiative for privately run businesses in the UK. It is designed to groom entrepreneurial businesses to the point where they are an attractive proposition to outside investment capital.
Yorkshire and Humber Manufacturing Advisory Service
Saint Martin's House
210-212 Chapeltown Road
Leeds
LS7 4HZ
Tel: 08700 111 875
Fax: 0113 368 5263
MAS aims to help the region's manufacturers improve their productivity and efficiency by providing easy access to advice, information and 'hands-on' specialist manufacturing help. The majority of these services are delivered for free or 50% grant subsidised.
Association of British Credit Unions Ltd.
Holyoake House
Hanover Street
Manchester
M60 0AS
Tel: 0161 832 3694
Fax: 0161 832 3706
ABCUL is the main trade Association for credit unions in England, Scotland and Wales.
a UK consumer site which carries information on credit unions including a guide co-written by ABCUL
Saint Martins House
210-212 Chapeltown Road
Leeds
LS7 4HZ
Tel: 0113 294 5000
Fax: 0113 294 5003
The YFM Group seeks to address market opportunities in the supply of investment capital to small companies. From venture capital it has expanded into consultancy and property development services, all of which are targeted at the same SME customer base. Group companies now offer a comprehensive range of services designed to help high growth potential businesses achieve their turnover and profit targets.
QCK
Hyde Park House
5 Manfred Road
London
SW15 2RS
Tel: 0208 875 0200
Fax: 0208 874 3100
QCK is the UK's leading finance and business directory
HM Revenue & Customs
HMRC is responsible for collecting the bulk of tax revenue as well as paying tax credits and child benefit, and strengthening the UK's frontiers.
The Prince's Trust
18 Park Square East
London
NW1 4LH
Tel: 0800 842842
Fax: 020 7543 1200
Every young person has potential. But many don't have the opportunities to fulfil it. The Prince's Trust helps provide those opportunities. The Prince's Trust works with young people under 30 year olds who want to start a business, offering them low interest loans, grants, mentors and other support they need to achieve their goals.
Shell Livewire
Shell Livewire helps 16 – 30 year olds to start and develop their own business and hosts a national competition for new business start-ups.
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
Chartered Accountants Hall
PO Box 433
London
EC2P 2BJ
Tel: 020 7920 8100
Fax: 020 7920 8547
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales is the largest professional accountancy body in Europe, with over 122,000 members.
Directorbank Executive Search
Saxton House
5 - 9 Maude Street
Leeds
West Yorkshire
LS2 7HB
Tel: 0113 297 8000
Fax: 0113 297 8001
Provides access to many of Europe's leading senior executives across all sectors - and more are continually being added. Candidates all have a clear track record of achievements in senior executive positions. They are capable of participating in deals with values in the range £5 million to £1 billion.
The Better Payment Practice Campaign
This website offers advice and guidance to small businesses on how to collect money owed to them and reduce bad debt losses. Prompt payment is an issue for everyone involved in the management and customer relations areas of a company - it should not just be read by sales or accounts staff. The information for suppliers looks at preventative measures and possible ways of reducing the risk of late payment and bad debts. It also looks at the specifics of getting paid and how to manage credit and recover debts quickly and effectively.
Financial Ombudsman Service
The Financial Ombudsman Service provides consumers with a free independent service for resolving disputes with financial service providers.
Carbon Trust
9th Floor
3 Clement's Inn
London
WC2A 2AZ
Tel: 020 7170 7000
Fax: 020 7170 7020
The Carbon Trust is an independent not for profit company set up by the Government with support from business to take the lead on low carbon technology and innovation in this country, and put Britain in the lead internationally. This organisation works with business and the public sector to accelerate the move towards a low carbon future and to promote the commercial opportunities this represents.
Card Watch
c/o APACS
Mercury House
Triton Court
14 Finsbury Square
London
EC2A 1LQ
Tel: 020 7711 6356
Fax: 020 7628 0927
A useful source of information on payment card fraud and its prevention. For ease of use, the site is broken into sections for retailers, police, cardholders and the media, each containing the most relevant information for the audience.
The Money Telegraph
1 Canada Square
Canary Wharf
London E14 5DT
Tel: 020 7538 5000
The online version of the UK broadsheet carries a particularly useful channel for small businesses. Aimed at the UK SME audience this resource provides up to the minute news on the latest legislation and regulations affecting business owner managers.
Action Energy
Action Energy helps businesses and public sector organisations save money by improving their energy efficiency. Information, advice, practical help and financial support are provided to enable businesses to start reducing energy costs.
Calculate Your Pension
Everybody thinking about or currently saving for a pension will be able to calculate how much their savings might be worth on retirement via an online pensions calculator. The calculator has been launched by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and the Financial Services Authority (FSA).