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 PARTNERSHIPS
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 andcan put you in contact with support from the public, private or voluntary sectors.
Tel: 08457 969798
Locate your regional centre
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.
Department of Trade and Industry
DTI Enquiry Unit
1 Victoria Street
London
SW1H 0ET
DTI aims to promote enterprise, innovation and increased productivity - in particular by encouraging successful business start-ups, and by increasing the capacity of business, including SMEs, to grow, to invest, to develop skills, to adopt best practice, and to exploit opportunities abroad, recognising the development of the knowledge economy and taking account of regional differences.
Trading Standards Institute
The Trading Standards Institute provides a one stop shop for consumer protection information in the UK. The organisation provides a wealth of information for businesses and consumers, schools, advice and information centres, community organisations, local councils, business support agencies and trade associations.
Environment Agency
The aim of the Agency is to provide Business and Industry with information to:
- help comply with Regulations
- avoid pollution
- identify Best Available Techniques
- apply for permits or licences
- keep up to date with forthcoming Legislation and Regulations
- advise on Agency Policy and procedures
British Standards Institute
389 Chiswick High Road
London
W4 4AL
Tel: 020 8996 9000
Fax: 020 8996 7400
BSI is the world leader in standards and quality management services, and owns the most famous of all product quality marks - the Kitemark.
A Great Place to Work?
People who say they work in a great organisation put it down to a knowledge that they know what's going on and how they fit into the bigger picture, and a sense that their contribution is valued and makes a difference. All of this adds up to a sense of opportunity, achievement and excitement.
Public Concern at Work
Suite 306
16 Baldwins Gardens
London
EC1N 7RJ
Tel: 020 7404 6609
Fax: 020 7404 6576
Public Concern at Work is uniquely placed to help businesses in complying with the Public Interest Disclosure Act. PCW provides support to leading companies, government departments, the NHS and organisations from all sectors. This support is tailored to the needs of the organisation and can include consultancy, policy reviews & audits, in-house training, staff briefing, guidance on handling concerns and communication support.
International Standardisation Organisation
1, rue de Varembé
Case postale 56
CH-1211
Geneva 20
Switzerland
Tel: + 41 22 749 01 11
Fax: + 41 22 733 34 30
A worldwide federation of national standards bodies from some 140 countries, one from each country. The source of ISO 9000 and more than 13,000 International standards for business, government and society.
RoHS Enforcement Team
NMO
Stanton Avenue
Teddington
Middlesex
TW11 0JZ
The National Measurement Office is responsible for enforcement of a number of EU Directives including the Restriction on the use of Hazardous Substances Directive, Energy Related Products Directive, Energy Labelling Directive and the Batteries and Accumulators (Placing on the Market) Directive. A website has been developed to provide small businesses with information and help associated with compliance and enforcement, including access to the full text of Directives and Regulations.
American National Standards Institute
1819 L Street
NW, 6th Fl.
Washington
DC, 20036
USA
Tel: 202 293 8020
Fax: 202 293 9287
The Institute's mission is to enhance both the global competitiveness of U.S. business and the U.S. quality of life by promoting and facilitating voluntary consensus standards and conformity assessment systems, and safeguarding their integrity.
National Weights and Measures Laboratory
Legal weights and measures are fundamental to a sustainable trading economy. Every week in the UK, over a billion pounds of goods are weighed and measured at retail level alone. NWML, Trading Standards Officers and other approved persons, are responsible for making sure these measures are correct.
The Work Foundation
Peter Runge House
3 Carlton House Terrace
London
SW1Y 5DG
Tel: 0870 165 6700
Fax: 0870 165 6701
The Work Foundation, formerly The Industrial Society, combines leading-edge analysis of the modern workplace with practical experience of what inspiring and successful businesses and public sector organisations look like today. It is a new kind of organisation - part research institute, part business consultancy, part advocate.
The Business Excellence Model
The British Quality Foundation
32-34 Great Peter Street,
London
SW1P 2QX
Tel: 020 7654 5000
Fax: 020 7654 5001
The British Quality Foundation is a not-for-profit membership organisation that promotes business excellence to private, public and voluntary sector organisations in the UK.
Investors in people
Investors in People UK
7-10 Chandos Street
London
W1G 9DQ
Tel: 020 7467 1900
Fax: 020 76362386
Investors in People is the national standard which sets a level of good practice for training and development of people to achieve business goals.
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.
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.
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.
Charter Mark
Charter Mark and Beacon Unit
Room 3.16
The Cabinet Office
Admiralty Arch
The Mall
London SW1A 2WH
Tel: 020 7276 1755
A major part of the Government's drive to modernise public services. It is unique amongst quality schemes because your organisation is judged on its results - the service the customer actually receives. It shows that you put customers first. It demonstrates to people - both your customers and people in other organisations - just how high standards in the public service can be.
The Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply
Easton House,
Easton on the Hill
Stamford
Lincolnshire
PE9 3NZ
Tel: 01780 756777
Fax: 01780 751610
An international organisation serving the purchasing and supply profession. Dedicated to promoting best practice, CIPS provides a wide range of services for the benefit of members and the wider business community.
Plain English Campaign
PO Box 3
New Mills
High Peak
SK22 4QP
Tel: 01663 744409
Fax: 01663 747038
An independent pressure group fighting for public information to be written in plain English.