7.01 – Connecting with Government Services
Getting help for your business from the government can be worthwhile. You pay for that help in your taxes, so if you want value for money these schemes are certainly worth exploring. Some of this help is available throughout the country and some is tailored to the needs of a particular region.
Accessing national government support
That the UK government is keen to help small business should come as no big surprise. New small businesses are a key source of new jobs and, eventually, of tax payments. However, just because the government’s aims are selfish doesn’t mean you shouldn’t tap into any help you can get. Exactly what that help is varies from time to time, both in terms of the type of help and its amount and form.
You can expect government help, advice and support in some or all these areas:
» Grants and incentives
» Online information on all aspects of business
» Regulations that apply when starting a business
» Sources of finance, both debt and equity (see Chapter 8 for more on these types of funds)
» The attributes and skills needed to launch and run a business, and how you measure up
» The range of issues that you need to consider in developing your business proposition
» The right sort of finance to start and grow your business
» The steps required for informing public authorities that you’re launching your business
» Training schemes
» What type of business is most appropriate
The contact point for access to all government help is www.gov.uk/moving-from-benefits-to-work/starting-your-own-business. From this link, you can access information on the full range of help, advice, funding initiatives and other support services provided by or through the central government.
Relating to a region
Some support for new and growing businesses is available at a national level, but increasingly the governing bodies of the individual countries that make up the UK provide a range of initiatives.
England
Business Support Helpline (England)
Telephone: 0800 998 1098
Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Website: www.gov.uk/business-support-helpline
You can also speak to an adviser on a webchat link about support for your business.
Northern Ireland
Invest Northern Ireland
Telephone: 0800 181 4422
Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Website: www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/content/starting-business
Scotland
Find Business Support Scotland
Telephone: 0300 303 0660
Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Website: https://findbusinesssupport.gov.scot
Wales
Business Wales Start Up and Business Planning
Telephone: 0300 060 3000
Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Website: https://businesswales.gov.wales/starting-up/
A total of 38 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Growth Hubs cover the whole of England from the North East down to Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. These Growth Hubs provide start-up advice to get your business idea off the drawing board and flourishing. Each Hub can help connect you with specialist business coaching advisers and get you help with market research. They know all about the grants, loans and vouchers you may be eligible for. Best of all, their services are free at the point of delivery. You can find your nearest Growth Hub at www.lepnetwork.net/local-growth-hub-contacts
