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!
Speak to one of our trained Business Navigators. They can provide FREE and impartial information and guidance to help you establish whether your idea has the capacity to be made into a reality.
Or browse the list below for details of Support Providers that might be able to help. Click through to find out more and apply.
Starting and Succeeding in Business – WSX SELEP
1-2-1 business support, free events, and videos
Starting and Succeeding in Business consists of two courses that are designed for those who have recently started a new business or are looking to do so, as well as those made redundant or have become unemployed because of COVID-19.
What is it?
- FREE workshops and masterclasses
- 1-2-1 support from Business Advisors
- Access to a library of free educational training videos
- Grants available (between £500-£2000)
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 from Microsoft
Free Microsoft guide on growing your small to medium sized business
Microsoft offer a free online guide to help you grow your small to medium business. It offers advice on:
- Boosting productivity
- Working better together
- Reducing bottlenecks
- Keeping data safe
- Streamlining your IT