Business Link is government's online resource for businesses. It contains essential information, support and services for businesses, ranging from large organisations or start ups.
Simple to use, up to date and practical, Business Link is the first place to go to find guidance on regulations and to access government services. It also has a number of useful online tools, calculators, and best practice case studies; and provides access to funding options, as well as wider support.
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships are a UK-wide programme helping businesses to improve their competitiveness and productivity through the better use of knowledge, technology and skills that reside within the UK Knowledge Base.
To find out more from the local Universities:
University of Chichester - www.chi.ac.uk
University of Brighton - www.brighton.ac.uk
Providing one-off advice, strategic consultancy services, bespoke training and development plans, access to finance and business to business exhibitions and events the Let's do business group offer a range of services to business. Click below to find out more:
Profitnet is an innovative business development and support programme that enables small and medium-sized enterprises to help themselves and their peers. Developed by the University of Brighton, it has been successful for over 1000 businesses in the UK and Ireland.
Profit Net is currently recruiting for a CWS Profit Net Programme.
Click here to find out more: www.brighton.ac.uk
Fredericks Foundation
Fredericks Foundation is a charity that helps disadvantaged people to set up, or expand their own business as a means to achieve financial independence while rebuilding their confidence and self esteem.
The Fredericks Foundation provide a comprehensive range of business support and microloan funding for start-ups and small businesses. In doing so they enable people who cannot access finance, through the usual channels, to realise their potential for the benefit of themselves and their families.
Click here to find out more: http://www.fredericksfoundation.org
Knowledge Transfer Networks have been established and are funded by government, industry and academia. They bring together diverse organisations and provide activities and initiatives that promote the exchange of knowledge and the stimulation of innovation in these communities. There are currently 15 KTNs.
The KTNs are now hosted on _connect, a powerful networking platform. _connect is a place that facilitates open innovation, where people can network, share information and knowledge and work together securely. Utilise the online tools to work collaboratively or discuss ideas and find events. Join _connect now by using the following the link: https://connect.innovateuk.org/
Women's Wisdom works with all sorts of people to help them make decisions about their lives and have the confidence to achieve new things in the future which could make life better for themselves and for some, their families too. Much of their work is supporting unemployed people back into employment, supporting people thinking about starting their own business, helping people who would like to do volunteering and giving people the opportunity to gain confidence in going back to college to learn new skills. Click here to find out more: http://www.womenswisdom.co.uk/
MD Hub
MDHUB is the premier business club for leading MDs. Dedicated to spreading best practice through peer-to-peer contact between like-minded MDs. It is their aim to help members develop sustainable business growth. For more information, please click here http://www.mdhub.co.uk/
Provision of advice to people thinking about starting a business in the Hastings and Rother area.
Hastings & St Leonards Town Centre Management
Facilitating a private/ public partnership working to regenerate the two town centres, whilst supporting business crime reduction schemes.
The Centre provides excellent facilities and a thriving business environment for over 70 high growth companies primarily in the IT, Biotech, Media and Engineering sectors. A unique collaboration between the public, academic and business sectors, SInC is committed to harnessing the economic potential of the extensive education and research resources available in the Sussex area.
Facilities are tailored towards technology-based, high growth enterprises with tenants benefiting from excellent communication systems, cost effective fixed line internet access and conference and meeting room facilities. Click here to find out more http://www.sinc.co.uk/home/index.html
The aim of Worthing First has always been to support businesses in the Worthing and surrounding areas. Seed funded by West Sussex County Council and Worthing Borough Council - and operating as a Community Interest Company - Worthing First has now launched Enterprise House to provide practical support and advice to businesses, in one dedicated centre. Please click here to find out more http://www.worthingfirst.org.uk/
The free site offers businesses access to a list of quality-assured business mentoring organisations across Britain. An easy-to-use search engine allows businesses to refine their searches according to the life stage of their business and their location in Britain.
The site also allows business professionals to offer their services as a business mentor via the mentoring organisations listed.
www.mentorsme.co.uk also aim to raise awareness about the benefits of business mentoring through its library of online resources, which includes articles about mentoring and case studies of successful business mentoring relationships.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) liaises with the District Council and other partnerships on behalf of businesses, to ensure the continued economic prosperity of the area. The Chambers are membership organisations and organise and deliver a range of network events, training sessions and offer a wide and comprehensive range of services to business. Click here to find out more http://www.chichestercci.org.uk/
Hasting's Area Chamber of Commerce
Representing the views of businesses, our primary aims are to advance and promote commerce, industry and trade within the Borough of Hastings and St Leonards and its surrounding areas. We seek to ensure the ‘Business Voice’ is heard at local, regional and national levels.
Click here to find out more http://www.hastingschamber.co.uk/
Business Coaching for Growth
Business Coaching for Growth, to be launched in January 2012, is a new programme to help up to 10,000 high growth businesses a year to address barriers to growth and grow more rapidly. It will target a select group of:
Established SMEs with the potential to increase employment or turnover by 20 per cent or more each year for three years
New start-ups with the potential to become “gazelles” i.e. the potential to achieve turnover of £1m within three years of starting trading, or to have at least 10 employees within three years.
The programme will be delivered by specialist private sector providers. It will be critical for providers to build effective relationships with LEPs and ensure that delivery is:
- Attuned to LEP priorities
- Aligned with the needs of the local economies
- Fully integrated with local business support services where the customer can benefit.
Business Coaching for Growth will offer:
- Coaching of senior management teams to develop and implement growth strategies and develop leadership and management skills
- Tailored, specialist help to develop a successful investment pitch
- Facilitated introductions to potential investors
- Access to high quality facilities by partnering with leading business incubators, science parks and Technology Innovation Centres
- Advice on how to identify and protect intellectual property and copyright and develop strategies to commercially exploit IP and innovation
- Fast track access to trusted sources of specialist advice and support such as the Technology Strategy Board and UKTI
- Access to business and knowledge networks.
A Community Development Finance Institution, established in 2004 to provide access to finance to people wanting to start a business, and established businesses who were unable to access conventional bank support.
Click here to find out more http://www.capitalise.org/
Young Enterprise
Young Enterprise is the United Kingdom's largest business and enterprise education charity. Every year we help 250,000 young people learn about business and the world of work in the classroom under the guidance of volunteers from 3,500 companies. Click here to find out more http://www.young-enterprise.org.uk/