Start-up Advice
Do you have a new business idea?
If you have an idea but aren’t sure how to progress further or what steps to take – you’re in the right place!
Or browse the list below for details of Support Providers that might be able to help. Click through to find out more and apply.
Business Support Helpline
The free to access Business Support Helpline can help small businesses of all stages to find the right support and impartial advice, whether just starting out or growing a business. Advisers provide tailored guidance and information on schemes and publicly funded business support programmes available in your local area and across England. The service is available via telephone, email, webchat and social media.
Princes Trust
| The Prince’s Trust works with 18 to 30-year-olds living in the UK to turn big ideas into a reality. Their free Enterprise programme takes place in a centre near you and is broken down into three stages.
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Colbea
Fully funded virtual business advice sessions and workshops
Colbea assist businesses of any age with planning, cashflow, marketing, business re-alignment, COVID 19 support and much more.
Training courses are hands-on, interactive, and will help you take proactive steps towards business success.
Content includes:
- Getting yourself ‘business ready’
- Making your marketing work
- Business banking
- Managing your business money
- Preparing for business planning
NWES
Fully funded business advice, workshops, and workspace.
NWES are a not-for-profit enterprise agency which delivers business support to start-up and growing SMEs.
They help young businesses to grow, as well as offer support programmes, access finance, advice and training.
Enterprise Nation
Events and online guides to give you access to the advice and expertise your business needs
Enterprise Nation is a vibrant community of small businesses and business advisers that exist to shortcut your route to trusted business support.
Whether you’re starting or growing a business, they have the resources, expertise, and connections to help you get it right.
You can get access to support at a selection of events held up and down the UK, or online via a dynamic platform that gets you to answers and advisers fast.
Essex Cyber Resilience Centre
Protect your business from Cyber Crime
The Essex Cyber Resilience Centre is an initiative between the police, the private sector and academia, set up to help businesses protect themselves against cybercrime.
Trading Standards
Trading Standards for businesses
Trading Standards will provide your business with advice on licensing, labelling, standards or registrations.
Better Business for All
Find out what you need to do to achieve or maintain compliance for your business
Better Business for All (BBfA) is a collaboration between business and regulators to enable simpler and more consistent compliance with relevant regulation, ultimately leading to a safer and more profitable society.
Their website acts as a one-stop-shop for businesses to check what is relevant to you and what to do about it.
Start up Donut
Tips and advice for starting your own business.
Small Business Britain
| Small Business Britain is the UK’s leading champion of small businesses, supporting all 5.8 million small businesses in the UK – no matter their location, their sector, or their ambition level.
Through a series of reports, events and campaigns, Small Business Britain champions, inspires and accelerates small businesses in the UK to foster growth and increased confidence Sustainability Basics – This free programme (and community of like minded businesses) gives each entrepreneur the basics they need to supercharge their sustainability planning, reduce their impact on the planet, and turn their sustainability plans into fantastic commercial advantage. Small Business Britain | Champion. Inspire. Accelerate. Small and Mighty programme – This six-week programme to supercharge sole traders and micro businesses, concludes with a growth plan to support the next year of business opportunity. It will be delivered entirely online, allowing access from anywhere in the UK with flexible learning enabling opportunities for all. Small Business Britain | Champion. Inspire. Accelerate.
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Learn with Start-Up Loans
A partnership between the British Business Bank and the Open University, Learn with Start-Up Loans is designed to help businesses get off the ground and stay there.
The courses provide a rich source of vital information for anyone who’s new to being their own boss, as well as would-be business owners who are considering taking the plunge.
Covering digital skills to bookkeeping and accounting, the courses are designed to help business owners understand more about the key aspects of running a business – from the day-to-day to growing a venture.
Alongside the business essentials, you can now find courses focusing on climate and sustainability, mental health and wellbeing, as well as trauma and grief.
The courses are free and you don’t have to take out a loan to access them.