Where to go for information

Business organisations, development agencies and initiatives

Internal links

Preparation is key to start-up success

Co-operate to survive and prosper

Where to go for information

Building on an instinct for business

Branch out from paper to reality

Without capital, good ideas remain just that

A bad business blames its tools

Business Organisations

The Federation of Small Businesses

Whittle Way, Blackpool Business Park, Blackpool, Lancashire, FY4 2FE

Tel: 01253 336000

www.fsb.org.uk

The Forum of Private Business

Ruskin Chambers, Drury Lane, Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 6HA

Tel: 01565 634467

www.fpb.co.uk

The Home Business Alliance

Freepost ANG3155, March, Cambridgeshire, PE15 9BR

Tel: 0870 442 3114

www.homebusiness.org.uk

The Centre for Family Enterprise

Glasgow Caledonian University, Park Drive, Glasgow, G3 6LP

Tel: 0141 331 33125

www.familyenterprise.org

The Small Business Bureau

Curzon House, Chruch Road, Windlesham, Surrey, GU20 6BH

Tel: 01276 452010

www.smallbusinessbureau.org.uk

ew-network

ew-network was launched in 1996 by businesswomen to provide a forum for exchanging ideas with like-minded female entrepreneurs. Gwen Rhys, Founder & Director, Enterprising Women, 10 Stratton Street, Mayfair, London W1X 5FD

e-mail: members@ew-network.com

www.ew-network.com

The Big Small Business Initiative (BSBI)

Silver City House, 62 Brompton Road, London, SW3 1BW

www.bsbi.co.uk

Government Business Development Agencies and Organisations

Business Link (England)

Look in the Yellow Pages under Business Enterprise Agencies or click on www.businesslink.co.uk

Business Shop (Scotland)

Tel: 0845 607 8787, or contact Scottish Enterprise, 120 Bothwell Street, Glasgow, G2 7JPO

Tel: 0141 248 2700

Business Connect (Wales)

Contact: Client Services, Welsh Development Agency, QED Centre, Main Avenue, Treforest, Mid Glamorgan CF37 5YR

Tel: 01443 845500

www.wda.co.uk

Highlands and Island Enterprise

Bridge House, 20 Bridge Street

Inverness IV1 1QR

Tel: 01463 234171

www.hie.co.uk

Local Enterprise Development Unit (LEDU)

LEDU House, Upper Galwally,

Belfast, BT8 6TB

Tel: 02890 491031

www.ledu-ni.gov.uk

Government departments

Her Majesty's Customs & Excise

User-friendly business advice on VAT, Excise and Inland Customs:

Tel: 0845 010 9000

www.hmce.gov.uk

Inland Revenue

For information and guidance on all aspects of National Insurance (NI) including Statutory Sick Pay, Statutory Maternity Pay and general PAYE as well as basic VAT registration, call:

(for new employers):

0845 60 70 143

(for established employers):

08457 143 143

National Minimum Wage Helpline

Tel: 0845 600 0678

Office of Fair Trading (OFT) Competition Act enquiry line:

020 7211 8989

enquiries.competitionact@oft.gov.uk

www.oft.gov.uk/html/comp-act

The British Safety Council

70 Chencellors Road

London W6 9RS

Tel: 0208 741 1231

e-mail: press@britsafe.org

www.britishsafetycouncil.org

The Valuation Office

The Valuation Office is the Government agency at the heart of the rating system.

www.voa.gov.uk

Employment Service Direct

Provides access to jobs in all local jobcentres

Tel: 0845 6060234

www.employmentservice.co.uk

www.worktrain.gov.uk

Office of the Data Protection Commissioner

Wycliffe House, Water Lane

Wilmslow

Chshire SK9 5AF

Tel: 01625 545745

www.dataprotection.gov.uk

Patent Office

Harmsowrth House

13-15 Bouverie Street

London EC4Y 8DP

or

Concept House

Cardiff Road

Newport NP10 8QQ

Tel: 0845 950 0505

www.patent.gov.uk

Companies Information

Companies House (England & Wales)

Crown Way, Cardiff CF14 3UZ

Tel: 02920 388588

Companies House (Scotland)

37 Castle Terrace

Edinburgh EH1 2EB

Tel: 0870 3333 636

Companies Registry

IDB House

64 Chichester Street

Vbelfast BT1 4JX

Tel: 02890 234488

www.companieshouse.gov.uk

Franchising

British Franchise Association

Thames View

Newtown road

Henley-on-Thames

Oxfordshire RG9 1HG

Tel: 01491 578050

Franchise Advice Centre

The Franchise Business

18 Chulsdown Way

Purbrook

Hampshire

PO7 5DT

Direct Marketing and Selling

Direct Marketing Association UK Ltd, Haymarket House, 1 Oxendon Street, London SW1Y 4EE

Tel: 020 7321 2525

www.dma.org.uk

Direct Marketing Forum

(an online reference library)

www.dmforum.com

Direct Selling Association

29 Floaral Street

London WC2E 9DP

www.dsa.org.uk

Exporting

DTI Export Credit Guarantee Department

2 Exchange Tower

Harbour Exchange Square

Lonodn E14 9GS

Tel: 020 7512 7887

www.ecgd.gov.uk

Export market Information Centre (EMIC)

DTI

Kingsgate House

66-74 Victoria Street

London SW1E 6SW

Tel: 020 7215 5444

Publicly accessible library of overseas market intelligence.

Trade UK (DTI)

www.tradeuk.com

The world's first cyberpark for exporters and their potential purchasing partners.

Finding a Lawyer

Consult the list from their parent body, The Law Society, titled "Lawyers For Your Business":

www.lfyb.lawsociety.org.uk

www.lawsociety.org.uk

Finding an Accountant

Consult the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)

Tel: 020 7920 8597

www.icaew.co.uk

Other Business Support Agencies Websites

ACAS

www.acas.org.uk

Benchmarking Index

www.benchmarkindex.com

British Standards

www.bsi.org.uk

British Venture Capital Association

www.brainstorm.co.uk/BVCA

Business Angels

www.nationalbusangels.co.uk

Chambers of Commerce

www.britishchambers.co.uk

Confederation of British Industry (CBI)

www.cbi.org.uk

Disability Discrimination Act

www.disability.gov.uk

Enterprise Zone

www.enterprisezone.org.uk

European Information Centres (EICs)

www.euro-info.org.uk

Health and Safety Executive

www.open.gov.uk/hse/hsehome.htm

Inside UK Enterprise

www.iuke.co.uk

Institute of Directors

www.iod.co.uk

International Trade

www.brittrade.com

IT Won't Byte

www.itwontbyte.com

Learning Direct

www.ufiltd.co.uk

Other Useful Commercial Websites

www.bt.com

www.bt.com/timesmart

www.smallbiz.uk.com

www.space2.com

www.realbusiness.co.uk

www.businesszone.co.uk