Starting a Business
Business Start Up Grants
Financial support is available to people living in South Bedfordshire who are interested in starting their own business or who have started a business within the last twelve months. Grants of up to £500 are available.
Business Support - Business Link East
In April 2007, a new Business Link service was introduced in the East of England. The Business Link operations across the region, including Bedfordshire and Luton Business Link, were consolidated into a single service, known as Business Link East.
Business Link East provides the following services for start-ups and growing businesses:
Information and Intelligence Service
The Service includes an Information and Enquiry Service, staffed by advisors to provide information and answers to business questions, and a Business Intelligence Service providing more in-depth support and advice over the phone. The Service can be reached on a single phone number, 08457 17 16 15.
Business Advice Services
A team of business advisors are available across the region to work one-to-one with businesses.
A New Package of Support for Start-Ups
Business Link East offer an innovative support programme for start-up businesses. The first stage involves attendance at a workshop aimed at people who have a business idea but have not developed it. From there, a range of other topical workshops and seminars are available, as well as one-to-one advice.
Topical Events, Workshops and Seminars
A range of business workshops and seminars are available, most of which are free of charge or heavily subsidised. These cover topics including starting a business; sales and marketing; finance and legislation; using IT; and developing people. For more information on workshops and seminars, visit www.bookevents.org or call 0845 601 1000
Contact
Business Link East
Information and Intelligence Centre
4 Bishops Square Business Park
Hatfield, Herts. AL10 9NE
Tel: 08457 17 16 15
Fax: 0845 607 6117
Website:www.businesslinkeast.org.uk
NWES Advance
Offers loans to start up businesses and existing businesses who cannot access finance from High Street lenders. Three types of loan are available.
Useful Links
Small Business Advice Service - provides free and confidential business advice and guidance to anyone planning, starting-up or running a small business. Offers an online enquiry service, linking directly to over 200 accredited business advisors nationally.
Business Start Up Community - an online community where people can communicate about business matters, problems and solutions.
Wenta - offers a range of advice for start up businesses, with appointments available locally in Leighton Buzzard and Houghton Regis.
Enterprise Road - supported by the East of England Development Agency, the website aims to share ways of helping would-be entrepreneurs to succeed.
