Useful Links Directory
I hope you find this list of links, of use! If you have any more that you would like you share with us, please feel free to use our contact form, to send them to us. This will be much appreciated, and we will add them to the list.
Business Gateway – offers support and advice to small businesses based in Scotland.
www.bgateway.com Business Support Helpline – Backed by the UK Government, this helpline offers free business support and signposting. www.gov.uk/business-support-helpline Business and self-employed – this useful page on the .Gov.uk website lists organisations offering support and advice to businesses and the self-employed. www.gov.uk/browse/business Business Wales – provides advice and support to businesses in Wales. www.businesswales.gov.wales Companies House – all limited companies in the UK are registered with Companies House. www.companieshouse.gov.uk The Crafts Council – provides financial, business and professional support. www.craftscouncil.org.uk Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) – the department responsible for Government policy regarding small business. www.bis.gov.uk Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) – information on services and benefits for people of working age, including those starting a business. www.dwp.gov.uk Enterprise Nation – community that supports businesses from start up to growth. www.enterprisenation.com Entrepreneurial Spark – business accelerator focusing on the business owner, helping build skills and resilience. www.entrepreneurial-spark.com Food Standards Agency (FSA) – information for anyone with a business that involves handling food. www.food.gov.uk Home Business Alliance – support for starting and expanding a home-based business. www.homebusiness.org.uk HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) – responsible for collecting the bulk of tax revenue as well as paying tax credits and child benefit (formerly Inland Revenue). www.hmrc.gov.uk Invest Northern Ireland – provides advice and support to businesses in Northern Ireland. www.investni.com National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) – offers support to explore new ideas, develop new products and services or experiment with new ways of nurturing creativity in science, technology and the arts. www.nesta.org.uk National Enterprise Network (NEN) – a membership body for organisations involved in the support and development of enterprise, including enterprise agencies and specialist enterprise providers, universities and corporate organisations. www.nationalenterprisenetwork.org Startup Britain – created by business owners, for business owners providing resources and events for people wanting to start a business. www.startupbritain.org The Prince’s Trust – provides loans and grants to young people between 18 and 30 years old who want to start or develop their own business. www.princes-trust.org.uk Trade Association Forum – provides information about UK trade associations. www.taforum.org UK Trade & Investment – supports firms in the UK looking to trade internationally. www.ukti.gov.uk Franchising British Franchise Association (BFA) – a professional membership organisation for franchise businesses. The BFA runs seminars for people thinking of franchising their own business. www.thebfa.org Whichfranchise.com – a directory of franchise opportunities in the UK. www.whichfranchise.com Green business The Carbon Trust – provides free advice on reducing your energy costs and waste management. www.thecarbontrust.co.uk Environment Agency UK – the public body for protecting and improving the environment in England and Wales. www.environment-agency.gov.uk Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) – the public body for protecting and improving the environment in Scotland. www.sepa.org.uk Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) – the public body for protecting and improving the environment in Northern Ireland. www.daera-ni.gov.uk/northern-ireland-environment-agency Wrap – free advice and support on practical ways to minimise waste and reduce environmental impact. www.wrap.org.uk |
British Insurance Brokers Association (BIBA) – offers a ‘Find a Broker’ service on their website.
www.biba.org.uk Business in the Community – encourages business and communities to work together to help them grow and develop. www.bitc.org.uk Confederation of British Industry (CBI) – a lobbying organisation for UK business to help create the conditions in which businesses can grow. www.cbi.org.uk Chartered Management Institute (CMI) – offers a range of support, advice, training and resources for managers. www.managers.org.uk Eureka – represents 40 member countries to promote international research and innovation across Europe through projects and public-private partnerships. www.eurekanetwork.org Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ISBE) – a membership organisation for individuals and organisations involved in small business and entrepreneurship research policy, and support. www.isbe.org.uk Institute of Directors (IoD) – a membership organisation for company directors providing information, advice, training and publications. www.iod.com Trade Association Forum – provides a directory of trade associations. www.taforum.org Everywoman – an online network and resource for women business owners. www.everywoman.com Freelancers in the UK – provides help and information on freelancing plus an online directory of freelancers. www.freelancersintheuk.co.uk Magazines Management Today – a magazine devoted to management issues. The website contains many useful resources and articles. www.managementtoday.co.uk Direct Marketing Preference Services Mailing Preference Service – allows consumers to register so as not to receive unsolicited direct mail. www.mpsonline.org.uk Email Preference Service – allows people to register an email address in order not to receive unsolicited sales and marketing email messages. www.ims-dm.com/cgi/optoutemps.php Fax Preference Service – allows consumers and businesses to register a fax number(s) so as not to receive unsolicited sales and marketing faxes. www.fpsonline.org.uk/fps Telephone Preference Service – allows businesses and consumers to register their telephone number so as not to receive unsolicited sales and marketing calls. www.tpsonline.org.uk More Useful Links Direct Selling Association (DSA) – information and advice on direct selling in the UK. www.dsa.org.uk Online resources Company Shortcuts – offers business templates and daily business tips to help you build and grow your business. www.companyshortcuts.com Expertise – a series of guides for business owners looking to build their digital profile, including a useful list of over 100 free online tools. www.expertise.com/small-business MarketingFile.com – provides direct marketing data and services in the UK and Europe. www.marketingfile.com Office for National Statistics – free access to data published by the Office for National Statistics. www.ons.gov.uk Survey Monkey – a useful tool for creating professional online surveys quickly and easily. www.surveymonkey.com Organisations Acas (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) – the employment relations service that offers practical, independent and impartial advice to employers, employees and their representatives. The site has clear and useful leaflets and booklets, often free and most downloadable. www.acas.org.uk Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) – an independent organisation offering dispute resolution and mediation services. www.cedr.com HM Revenue & Customs (Employer Helpline) www.hmrc.gov.uk/employers Skills Funding Agency – the Government agency responsible for ensuring businesses can access the skills training they need. www.gov.uk/government/organisations/education-and-skills-funding-agency |