| Useful Links |
|
The following organisations have been identified as offering particular value to anyone
planning to start, or already running, a small business.
Each of the organisations is identified by name and their area of specialisation defined. The organisations are presented in two lists; General Business and Government. This index will remain on your desktop, allowing you scroll through the list and check out several links at a time without reloading the links list. Choose the list you want to search first (General Business or Government) then use the scroll bar to view the list. To access a site just clcik on the web site address. |
General Business Sites
| ACAS Advisory Services |
| Details about the role of the service and how to get advisory help from ACAS in the case of disputes. |
| Axa 4 Business |
| Free online resource with an "AXA Experts" section which small businesses can use to ask questions on health at work, pensions, risk management and continuity planning, regulatory developments and business management. Site also includes an A-Z of resources and a National Business Awards section with tips on entering the AXA Small to Medium Sized Business of the Year Award. |
| bCentral - small business advice from Microsoft |
| Information and advice to help you start up and run your own business in the UK. bCentral�s packed full of ideas and advice on marketing, finance and people management � plus IT and software information of course. And if that wasn�t enough, there are interactive tools to give you answers that are right for your company. |
| Being in Business (4Money) |
| A useful site giving information and tips for people wanting to start a business. Some of the interesting points include downloadable examples of financial documents, and online quizzes to complete. |
| Better Payment Practise Group |
| An on-line guide to help suppliers and buyers tackle the issue of late payment. |
| Bizwise |
| Varied and helpful on-line advice and information (mostly free) for small businesses. Low-cost legal documents can be purchased on-line. |
| British Bankers Association |
| A not-for-profit organisation that represents the banking industry in the UK. Website includes Small Business Webpages, which give practical banking information specifically for small businesses. The NEW Business Account Finder enables businesses to compare, for free, a wide range of accounts from different banks. |
| The British Library |
| The British Library Research Service provides market analysis, company profiles, product searching and other useful services for SME's. |
| British Chamber Of Commerce |
| Ready-made management support for any business anywhere in the UK. Details of the Chambers services as well as help with finding your nearest accredited Chamber. |
| British Standards |
| Gives detailed information about inspections standards, product testing, and Kitemark accreditation. |
| British Trade International |
| Useful exporters database. |
| Business Bricks |
| business bricks is an email newsletter read by an avid audience of over 6,000 small business owners and start-ups every Tuesday and Friday. |
| The Business Centre Association (bca) |
| The Business Centre Association (bca) is the only UK trade association representing the business centre and managed workspace industry. Visit www.bca.uk.com where potential users of business centres and managed workspace will find impartial information of more than 600 member locations around the UK, ranging from small independent to large international operators, both in city centre and out of town business park locations. The bca is guaranteed to find the perfect workspace for your business. |
| Business Eye Wales |
| Business start-up and development advice and support in Wales. |
| Business Plans from Teneric |
| This site is Europe's most visited business plan site and offers advice, articles and a business forum to help small business owners with writing winning business plans. |
| Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs). |
| The CDFA is the trade association for Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs). CDFIs are sustainable, independent financial institutions that provide capital and support to enable individuals or organisations to develop and create wealth in disadvantaged communities or under-served markets. |
| CIDA |
| Is a specialist support organisation for the creative and cultural sector. Services for individuals, new and existing businesses and not-for-profit organisations. |
| Adviceguide from the Citizens Advice Bureau |
| The online CAB information service, covering a wide range of topics, from employment rights and self-employment issues, through to advice on consumer, legal, debt and credit issues. The site also has information for all the four UK countries. |
| Companies Limited |
| This site provides you with all the necessary information, forms and documentation you will require to register a limited company in England and Wales. |
| Confederation Of British Industry (CBI) |
| Aims to ensure that Government, the European Commission and the wider business community understand the needs of British business. Facilities for on-line purchasing of business surveys. |
| Dosh - simple accounting software for start-up, micro and small businesses |
| The site provides information about a range of financial management programs, each of which have been developed for small-businesses and the self-employed. Its software has been developed to be easily accessible to anyone, even if they have no prior knowledge of accountancy or using a computer. |
| Design Directory |
| Design Directory is a guide to finding designers � and working with them. Here you�ll find a comprehensive listing of UK design agencies, searchable by region, speciality and experience. There�s advice on picking the right designer and making sure your relationship with them is as effective as possible. |
| Disabled Workers Co-operative |
| The Disabled Workers Co-operative is a registered charity that aims to raise the independence of disabled people (for those that want it) by enabling them to take an active role in the economy and achieve a greater sense of self-worth and also to raise awareness of the contribution that disabled people can make to society. |
| ELFE - E-Learning for Female Entrepreneurs |
| Free online course designed for women starting in business, covering areas such as growth, innovation, accounting, law, taxation, marketing and HR. |
| Enterprising Young Brits |
| Do you know someone who is making their mark? Daily Mail Enterprising Young Brits, supported by Lloyds TSB, is a national competition to recognise young people who have turned their ideas into reality. Part of the Make Your Mark campaign, the competition is open to anyone aged 30 and under who has made their idea happen in a new, innovative and inspiring way. The best entry in each category will win �1,000. So if someone you know has successfully mixed creativity with commercial flair, or demonstrated real entrepreneurial vision, you could be in with a chance! |
| Equality Direct |
| The service is designed to give easy access to authoritative and joined-up advice on a wide range of equality issues. The site provides general guidance on some of the main topics |
| European Patent Office |
| esp@cenet� is a free internet service from the European Patent Organisation. Use it to search in over 60 million patent documents. |
| everywoman |
| Community site for women in business. This comprehensive online resource offers information, advice and support to women who are starting-up or growing their own business. Features online networking, a business library and access to experts. |
| Factors And Discount Association |
| An on-line introduction into the world of factoring, invoice discounting and asset based finance. |
| Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) |
| The UK's leading lobbying and benefits group for small businesses. |
| Fraud Advisory Panel |
| The Panel's role is to alert the nation to the immense social and economic damage caused by fraud and help both public and private sectors to fight back. It is dedicated to a holistic approach and the long view. |
| Fraser Consultancy |
| Specialist advice and free guides for the small food business (restaurants, bistro's and cafe's) |
| Forum Of Private Business |
| Find out how FPB can fight for and support your business. Includes on-line membership. |
| Grant Finder |
| j4b.co.uk allows quick and simple searches of the constantly updated j4b database of business grants and loans - the most comprehensive database of its kind in the UK. |
| Growing Your Own Business Exhibition & Conference 2007 |
| Growing Your Own Business provides a comprehensive showcase of all the advice and assistance you need under one roof. |
| Home Business Alliance |
| Information and advice about all aspects of running a home business. |
| Industrial Common Ownership Fund (ICOF) |
| ICOF provides loan finance to not-for-profit social & co-operative enterprises. Loan amounts are available from �5,000 to �50,000 over terms from 3 months to 10 years. Loans are not conditional upon security being available, and are usually made at slightly below commercial rates. |
| The Insolvency Service |
| Information and a searchable database for and about Insolvency Practitioners. |
| Kompass |
| Kompass contains business information for UK purchasers & suppliers. Our search engine lists 1.8m business to business companies, UK & worldwide - importers, exporters, manufacturers, wholesalers & distributors. Provides listings on all industries via a database of 23m products & services. Find 730,000 trade names. Search 3.5m executives. |
| Learndirect |
| Learndirect offers high quality learning at a time, place and pace to suit you. You choose what and when to learn - and you can learn as quickly or as slowly as you like. People linking from this site get the chance to try a learndirect business course completely free of charge! But hurry, this offer is limited! |
| Leonard Cheshire |
| Leonard Cheshire is the UK's largest voluntary sector provider of support to disabled people. |
| Net Regs Environment Agency |
| The first UK web site designed to help small businesses navigate through the maze of environmental legislation. |
| National Business Register plc |
| This website is designed to enable new business starters and entrepreneurs to decide on which is the best structure for the new enterprise. |
| National Extension College |
| The National Extension College is a non-profit-making trust dedicated to providing educational opportunities for all. They offer a range of distance learning business courses which lead to fully accredited qualifications. |
| Payrole from Enable Ltd. |
| PayRole is an innovative payroll service dedicated to easing the burden of payroll for small businesses across the UK. Unlimited advice and guidance on pay and employment issues for SME's are an integral part of the payroll plus concept pioneered by PayRole. PayRole, as part of the Enable group, is the only UK payroll service for small businesses to have already successfully e-filed its clients' year-end returns by electronic data interchange (EDI). |
| PRIME |
| PRIME is a unique UK wide campaign encouraging people over 50 into self employment. PRIME is interested in anyone over 50 who might like to set up their own business, but is especially keen to help people over 50 who are not in paid work and would like to get back into the mainstream of economic life. |
| Princes Trust |
| Details about getting involved in the scheme, which helps 14-30 year olds, improve skills, confidence and ambition. |
| Rachel Elnaugh, entrepreneur |
| Rachel Elnaugh, entrepreneur, founder of Red Letter Days and the Dragons' Den (BBC business programme) Presenter. |
| Ready to Start |
| Ready to Start is an initiative aimed at encouraging and providing support for disabled people to start their own business. |
| Small Firms Enterprise Development Initiative (SFEDI) |
| Aims to increase the success of small businesses through access to learning assistance and improving standards of support provision. Allows on-line purchase of manuals and research. |
| Shell Livewire |
| Information about the scheme, which helps to develop the businesses of 16-30 year olds. |
| Small Business Site |
| This site is the UK's only "free of advertising" small business site that helps small business entrepreneurs plan, start and grow their small business. |
| Social Science Information Gateway |
| The Social Science Information Gateway (SOSIG) is a freely available Internet service which aims to provide a trusted source of selected, high quality Internet information for students, academics, researchers and practitioners in the social sciences, business and law. It is part of the Resource Discovery Network (RDN). |
| Standards Information Service |
| Developed to assist small and medium-sized enterprises with the information and resources they need to make the best possible use of standards and standardization in order to help improve their business. |
| Startups.co.uk |
| Startups.co.uk is a new website dedicated to inspiring entrepreneurs and helping them start and grow successful businesses. Free to all readers, it is a comprehensive, helpful resource for growing businesses. |
| Start your BUSINESS Magazine |
| A bimonthly publication that aims to help businesses start-up, grow and flourish in every aspect. |
| Start Your Own Business Newspaper |
| Published, county by county, it aims to raise awareness of the help and support that is available in each area for the potential entrepreneur. Free downloads available on site. |
| Technology Means Business |
| A network of accredited advisers who provide smaller firms with integrated business and ICT advice. Advisers have proven skills in both areas and have demonstrated their competence at a national level. |
| Tools2Learn |
| Welcome to Tools2Learn.co.uk, the premier source for all your learning and development needs including education from pre-school up. |
| Uk Corporator |
| The quickest, easiest, automated way to form any type of UK company - UK Corporator uses an intelligent, interview process to tailor the necessary documents taking into account of relevant Companies Act provisions. Secure, private, confidential. No need to re-register or pre-pay. |
| UK Business Incubation |
| Aims to run the leading business incubation network, provide quality services, expertise and information to assist the business incubation industry, and to help to breakdown barriers and identify opportunities to develop the industry. |
| U Klick For Marketing |
| dial m for marketing limited brings to you, for the first time, the triple award winning, online, automated, marketing planning product, UK4m, for small and medium sized enterprises. Phased by marketing? Not any more! You Klick - We plan! |
| You in business |
| You in Business is an innovative web portal, supporting aspirational women in business to realise their potential. As part of an ESF funded EQUAL Diversity in Practice Project, You in Business has been developed by a partnership of Exemplas, everywoman and Bank of Scotland Corporate, and provides free eMentoring, eLearning and online self-assessments, as well as an extensive and comprehensive range of business tools and information. |
| Webwise for Business (from the BBC) |
| The BBC's guide from using email to selling on the internet. Webwise for Business gives practical advise and tips on using the internet for work. |
| whichfranchise.com |
| We provide potential franchisees with free and impartial franchise information and advice. We only promote those companies that are members of, and have been accredited and checked by, the British Franchise Association (BFA). |
| Young Enterprise |
| Details on how businesses can become involved in the scheme, as well as guidance for students and teachers. |
| The Year in Industry |
| The Year in Industry initiative challenges Britain's brightest students. With Year in Industry you get to join the real world of work, the chance to experiment and try out your own ideas, make your favourite school subject work for you and get proper recognition for your achievements. |
| Business Link |
| An informative website giving you information about setting up your own business. |
| Central Office Of Information |
| This site makes available all Government press releases. |
| Companies House On Line |
| Makes available (for a fee) company accounts, but also maintains a list (freely accessible) of disqualified directors. |
| Commission for Racial Equality |
| Working towards racial equality does more than help your business stay within the law. It can also make you more competitive, and enhance your reputation as a good employer. |
| Community Interest Companies (CICS) |
| Community Interest Companies (CICS) are limited companies with special additional features created for the use of people who want to conduct a business or other activity for community benefit, and not purely for private advantage |
| Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform |
| This site has a section on small businesses with good statistical information. |
| Department of Education & Employment |
| News and press releases related to employment and education. |
| Foreign and Commonwealth Office |
| Latest news and briefing papers about foreign policy. |
| Foresight |
| Background to Foresight and their aims to look at possible future needs, opportunities and threats and to build bridges between business, science and government. Wide range of on-line research papers. |
| HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) |
| HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) was formed on the 18 April 2005, following the merger of Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise Departments. |
| H.M Treasury |
| Information about the UK economy, including comparisons of independent forecasts and general economic indicators. |
| Highways Agency |
| Documentation, road improvement information and useful contacts. |
| Jobcentre Plus |
| Jobcentre Plus is a government agency supporting people of working age from welfare into work, and helping employers to fill their vacancies. |
| Natural England |
| Natural England brings together English Nature, the Countryside Agency and the Rural Development Service. |
| Innovation |
| This website helps to show the importance of innovation and how best organisations can manage it. |
| Small Business Service |
| The Small Business Service is one of the key driving forces taking forward the Government Action Plan for Small Business published in January 2004. |