Business Support and Advice
Bedford Borough Council is committed to creating the right
environment for business to grow and prosper. By working in
partnership with key business support organisations, we can provide
valuable information, advice and guidance to help your business
succeed.
Business Link
The Government’s online resource for
businesses. Two new online services provided by Business Link have
now been launched. ‘My New Business’ offers comprehensive
information and guidance to those looking to start a business and
‘The Growth and Improvement Service’ offers information for those
who wish to develop their business. http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/
Wenta
Offer business start-up advice and guidance,
business training and development opportunities, business centre
premises and education programmes. Funded through Barclays, Wenta
offer a free Get Ready for Business workshop. Wenta have also
recently opened a ‘My Incubator’ facility at Bedford i–Lab, which
offers a hot-desk space with business adviser free of charge for 3
months to start ups in the Borough. www.wenta.co.uk.
Princes Trust
The Enterprise Programme supports unemployed
young people aged 18-30 to convert their business ideas into
reality. The programme can offer mentoring and financial support to
start a business or mentoring support to secure goals in
employment, education or training. http://www.princes-trust.org.uk/.
The Trust also offer Development Grants of up to £500.
Exemplas
Offers an Enterprise Coaching and advice
service for unemployed individuals considering starting up their
own business. They deliver a free ‘Can you give yourself a job’
workshop, delivered fortnightly at The Jobs Hub in Bedford town
centre.
Helping Business Grow
Internationally
Assistance to help prepare businesses start
exporting, improve businesses exporting capabilities and to help
enter into new export markets. http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/
or http://www.ukti.gov.uk/
Growth Accelerator
http://www.growthaccelerator.com/
Programme to help up to 10,000 high growth businesses a year to
address barriers to growth and grow more rapidly and will target a
select group of:
- Established Small to Medium Enterprises
(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.
EEF
EEF is the manufacturers’ organisation and the voice
of UK engineering, manufacturing and technology businesses.
Everything we do is designed to help manufacturers compete,
innovate and grow. Thousands of businesses are members of EEF and
benefit from our unique combination of industry representation,
business services, industry insight and networking events - all of
which are designed to help them manage their people, processes and
environmental responsibilities, and to help them meet their
regulatory commitments. See www.eef.org.uk
Manufacturing Advisory Service
(MAS)
Manufacturing companies can get specialist
support with manufacturing related issues and structured support to
manufacturing companies to increase productivity and
competitiveness. http://www.mas.bis.gov.uk/
Information and basic advice, events and training programmes are
generally free. Access to longer term assistance is offered to
manufacturers at a very competitive market rate. SMEs can receive
support at a discounted rate.
Collaborative Research and
Development
Designed to assist the industrial and research
communities to work together on R&D projects in strategically
important areas of science, engineering and technology - from which
successful new products, processes and services can emerge. Funding
of collaborative R&D projects is allocated on the basis of
regular competitions http://www.innovateuk.org/
Improving Your Resource Efficiency
(IYRE)
Helps businesses achieve cost savings and
increased competitiveness through - Reduced energy bills, Lower
water bills, Reduced costs of waste disposal and Reduced operating
costs from wider resource efficiency. See http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/
for an initial assessment, WRAP or Carbon Trust. Most of the
support is available for free and can be implemented at low, or no,
cost. Some help under this product is chargeable and some grants
may require match funding.
Knowledge Transfer
Partnerships
Businesses are able to access knowledge and
skills from the UK Knowledge Base (Further and Higher Education
Institutions or research organisations) for use in the strategic
development of business. Each partnership employs one or more
high-calibre KTP Associates (NVQ Level 4 in an appropriate subject;
HND; foundation degree; degree and higher degree; post-doc) for a
project in the applicant company lasting a typical duration of one
to three years.
By participating in KTP businesses can access
qualified people to spearhead new projects and can help take
business forward. See http://www.ktponline.org.uk/ for
an initial assessment. A KTP is part-funded by a grant from the
Technology Strategy Board. A small to medium-sized enterprise
(SME) would be expected to contribute about a third of the costs
involved in the project.
Networking for Innovation
Businesses can access national networks in
specific fields of technology or business application and bring
together people from businesses, universities, and research,
finance and technology organisations to stimulate innovation
through knowledge transfer. Businesses have access to Networking
events, Information and news. For further information refer
to: https://connect.innovateuk.org/web/guest/home
Startupbritain.org
Website that was developed with the support of
the Government and Private sector organisations to assist both
start up and growing businesses. http://www.startupbritain.org/
Venture
Navigator
Free online business support service which
helps individuals take their idea for a road test before they spend
valuable time and money. Businesses can find out more
about key early stage business issues and search hundreds of
articles written by business leaders and
academics. http://www.venturenavigator.co.uk/
The Knowledge Hub
The gateway to business support at the
University of Bedfordshire. The Knowledge Hub offers organisations
of all sizes access to a number of initiatives, including a range
of advice support including Intellectual Property advice and
business mentoring, free lectures and training including a Basics
of Building a Business programme, access to a network of expects
and researchers, networking opportunities and access to graduates
through the delivery of short term placements and research. See
www.beds.ac.uk/knowledgehub.
The Jobs Hub
The Jobs Hub is an exciting new approach to
helping Bedford Borough residents of all ages into work, training
or enterprise. In just 3 months, the project has already supported
over 2000 customers and is in a prime position to help employers to
broker the skills and talent that they need to grow their business.
For further information or to arrange a visit, contact Karen
Conway, The Jobs Hub Project Manager on 01234 276326 or email
Karen.Conway@bedford.gov.uk.
Federation of Small
Businesses
Campaigns on behalf of the self employed and
owners of small firms. Their publication ‘First Voice' allows small
businesses to obtain practical information and advice on important
issues affecting the business
community. http://www.fsb.org.uk/
The Chamber for Bedfordshire &
Luton
The local Chamber of Commerce for the County. The
Chamber support business in a number of ways, from membership
support programmes and lobbying duties to the delivery of a range
of projects assisting business to improve their operations and meet
their ambitions.
Telephone: 01582 522448
Website: http://www.chamber-business.com/