| Business Information 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;
It is always worth checking these specialist sites if you need to solve a problem - just click on the name. This index will remain on your desktop, allowing you to check out several links at a time. Use the link below to return to the small business advice service. Return to smallbusinessadvice |
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. |
| ADAS Agric Advisory Service |
| Introduction to ADAS's consultancy and research for land-based industries. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| WEBWISE FOR BUSINESS - BBC 2 Programmes |
| From using email to selling on the internet, Webwise for Business gives practical advise and tips on using the internet for work. Mon 4 to Fri 8 August, 04.00-05.00, BBC2, 05.00-06.00, BBC2. |
| 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. |
| British Venture Capital Association |
| Represents virtually every major source of UK venture capital. Helpful on advising how to go about getting venture capital and who to approach. |
| Business Link - Setting up your Business |
| An informative Website giving you information about setting up a company. |
| Busy Girl |
| Busygirl is a business technology network of over 3,000 corporate and entrepreneurial women. /nThe monthly `group mentoring' forums attract around 180 dynamic women who collectively share their experiences, analyse the issues and identify practical strategies. |
| Confederation Of British Industry |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Business Software Centre |
| Easy solutions to business problems. |
| Business Connect West |
| Business start-up and development advice and support in Wales. |
| Trade Association for 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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./n |
| Enterprise Insight |
| Details of recent and upcoming Insight events. Useful information and links to other entreprenurial websites. On-line reports of recent research. |
| Federation of Small Businesses |
| The UK's leading lobbying and benefits group for small businesses. /n |
| Essential Profile |
| A unique website offering small business and start-ups cost effective logo, web and stationery design |
| Export Trade Directory |
| Useful export sales leads. |
| Every Woman |
| 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. |
| Fast Link Solutions |
| This website provides free information for anyone planning or developing a business of their own. All advice and information has been given by people who operate their own successful 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) |
| Giving Campaign - Free Payroll Toolkit |
| Payroll Giving is a very simple scheme which enables your employees to make their charitable donations straight from the payroll, before taxes./nEmployees love the scheme because giving pre-tax donations enables them to make their contributions go further, making a bigger difference to the causes they care about. And the government adds an additional 10% to all donations made through Payroll Giving./n |
| Forum Of Private Business |
| Find out how FPB can fight for and support your business. Includes on-line membership. |
| Growing Your Own Business Exhibition & Conference 2005 |
| Growing Your Own Business provides a comprehensive showcase of all the advice and assistance you need under one roof. |
| Handbag.com Business Awards |
| Got a great business idea? Write a business plan with our help and win a host of prizes to help your new venture succeed! |
| 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. |
| 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! |
| 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. |
| Net Regs Environment Agency |
| The first UK web site designed to help small businesses navigate through the maze of environmental legislation. /n |
| National Extension College |
| The National Extension College is a non-profit-making trust dedicated to/nproviding educational opportunities for all. They offer a range of distance/nlearning business courses which lead to fully accredited qualifications. /n/n |
| Award Winning Grants Website |
| 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. |
| SOSIG - (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 /npractitioners in the social sciences, business and law. It is part of the Resource Discovery Network (RDN)./n |
| Livewire |
| Information about the scheme, which helps to develop the businesses of 16-30 year olds. |
| Real Deal |
| 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. |
| Tools 2 Learn |
| Welcome to Tools2Learn.co.uk, the premier source for all your learning and development needs including education from pre-school up. |
| Small Firms Enterprise Development Initiative |
| 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. |
| 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. /nPayRole, 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)./n |
| PRIME |
| PRIME is a unique UK wide campaign encouraging people over 50 into self employment./nPRIME 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./n/n |
| Princes Trust |
| Details about getting involved in the scheme, which helps 14-30 year olds, improve skills, confidence and ambition. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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./n/nPhased by marketing? Not any more! You Klick - We plan!/n/n |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Countryside Agency |
| Details about the Countryside Agency's work and their press releases. |
| Customs And Excise |
| Details and advice about customs requirements and VAT matters for businesses and the public. |
| Department of Education & Employment |
| News and press releases related to employment and education. |
| Department of Trade & Industry |
| This site has a section on small businesses with good statistical information. |
| Employment Service |
| The aim of the Employment Service is to help people without jobs to find work and employers to fill their vacancies. The ES also provide access to training and support. |
| Foreign and Commonwealth Office |
| Latest news and briefing papers about foreign policy. |
| Foresight Knowledge Pool |
| 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. |
| Government Search Facility |
| Search facility that can search for topics throughout all Government websites. |
| 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. |
| Inland Revenue |
| News and information on tax and insurance matters in the UK. |
| Innovation Unit |
| The unit and their website helps to show the importance of innovation and how best organisations can manage it. |
| Work Train For Advisers - Information Resource |
| This is a new website dedicated to advisers who provide information, advice and guidance to adults. Its aim is to provide a tool that allows advisers to access sources of information, which will help them in their services to customers. |
| 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. |
| Uk Online for Business |
| UK online for business is a DTI-led partnership between industry and government that provides small businesses with impartial advice about e-business and information & communications technologies (ICT). |
| 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. |