If you are disabled in any way you will find further contact points and work offers on the disability page
The Telecottage Association was set to spread the benefits of teleworking, and its members include the self-employed and home based businesses, company employees working from home and the companies introducing teleworking. Benefits of membership include Teleworker magazine, Teleworking Handbook, an advice line, seminars, training and 150 centres around the country fully equipped to deal with teleworkers.
BritPack is a long overdue idea, a special UK only marketing site where renowned UK marketers give conference calls on UK time. No more staying up to 3am to listen to important conference calls, or struggling to deal with US bias. They even have a UK conference call number. Completely free to join - check it out at http://www.britpackuk.com
GETTING STARTED
Free training courses
Vision2learn from Creating Careers offers a range of free interactive courses, all leading to nationally recognised qualifications. Students are able to do all the studying for any one of twelve available courses online, with ongoing support being provided from a fully qualified Further Education tutor. Courses are funded by the Learning and Skills Council, and are accredited through a college local to the student.
Free courses are usually available to any resident over 16 in England, as long as this residency has been for purposes other than full-time study.
My recommendation is to take their free online course about starting a business entitled "Entrepreneurship", which leads to the accredited qualification NCFE Advanced Certificate in Preparation for Business and demonstrates your professional skill to your bank manager, business associates and customers.
This course is made up of four units, as follows:
* Unit one - You
Find out if you’re emotionally, mentally and financially ready for business start-up. Identify your personal needs and expectations, review your skills needs and evaluate your finances.
* Unit two - Your business idea
Learn how to prepare an excellent business plan, find out how to set achievable goals and select an appropriate legal status for your business.
* Unit three - Your marketplace
You’ll develop practical market research skills and learn how to make the right marketing decisions for your product or service.
* Unit four - Your business operations
Develop your business plan into practical action plans, build a pre start-up timetable and find out how to achieve operational success by matching financial, human and material resources against your business goals.
Click here for more details and to register
Make It Happen
If you prefer to study offline, a new 6 part British course explains the nuts and bolts of running a business - choosing and setting up a business, finding customers, promotion and of course legal aspects like tax, national insurance, data protection and VAT, in a simple, easy to understand way and is written by UK-based mail order professionals who have been operating full-time successful home based businesses for many years. Full details and application form available from http://www.homeworkinguk.com/mih.pdf or e-mail for a copy.
Quickbooksusers.com/ is a great site for anyone using or thinking about using Quickbooks Accounting software. Solve QuickBooks problems;Get solutions;Give advice; Connect with other users; Compare QuickBooks to other accounting software;Discover 3rd party solutions; Talk with other QuickBooks users. Their forum is a constantly growing, independent QuickBooks user group...a network of users and professionals...a library of practical Quickbooks knowledge... all QuickBooks and QuickBooks Pro...all FREE!
If you prefer Peachtree Accounting software, a similar site can be found at Peachtreeusers.com. Offers free online support, newsletter, tips, tricks and troubleshooting help and there's even the chance to win a copy of Peachtree 8 for Dummies.
LAW on the WEB - a free legal information, guidance and gateway site for individuals and small businesses - devised, built and maintained by a solicitor formerly in private practice in the UK.
Amicable Business Coaching - Effective Business Solutions - How To Increase Profits And Grow Your Company - FREE Phone 0800 781 0414
Bizstart24 is an easy to use FREE business administration package that can be used instantly by just about everyone currently running a small or home based business or just starting a new business. It is a full set of business letters and forms - complete with full content, calculations and full formatting options and offers instant access to over 40 fully interactive business letter and forms. Download from http://www.bizstart24.co.uk/
CareerAtHome focuses on how to start working at home for yourself or an employer and contains over 50 articles all written by their team of experts with around 10 new articles each month
The Franchise Business - This website is divided into several sections:
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The Franchise Directory contains web pages providing free details of over 170 of the uk's leading franchises. The listings are either arranged alphabetically or by category and also include details of master franchise opportunities and Re-sales.
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The Franchise Advice Centre contains answers to all the important questions about franchising and why it is successful. Why should you buy a franchise, what should you look for etc.
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Professional Help Centre contains details of the Lawyers and consultants that specialise in Franchising and can offer you individual advice and support
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Franchise Library - the best books on Franchising are here.
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Financing Your Franchise - Where do you go for finance Are the banks the only choice? how should I prepare? What's on offer?
* Franchising Your Business - Where do I go for help and guidance? Can my business be franchised ?
Free e-books and free monthly ezine 'The Home Business Developer' - And discover an exciting proven UK Home Business: http://www.successsecrets.co.uk
Workable UK - A project sponsored by Reading University and business to assist disabled people gain employment. http://members.aol.com/workableuk
When you work for yourself, finding finance is always more difficult. ContractorMortgagesUK.com specialise in finding mortgages for Contractors, Freelancers, and temporary workers. they use their experience and understanding of the contractor mortgage marketplace to have bespoke underwriting arrangements in place allowing you to obtain “prime rate mortgages” and avoid the more expensive self cert route.
if you already have a mortgage, their Proactive Mortgage Management System (PAMM) will check to see if your current scheme is competitive and if not, they will help identify the best mortgage alternative for your needs.
Visit Contractor Mortgages for more details.
Actinic
Advice for small businesses wishing to use the Internet, including information on Internet commerce.
Baton - Business Advice and Training Open Network
Provide a business support service to the growing number of people involved in self-employment, starting-up and growing businesses in the UK.
British Exporters Association
Puts manufacturers in touch with export houses and traders.
Broadway House, Tothill Street, London SW1H 9NQ, UK.
Phone: 0207-222 5419 Fax: 0207-799 2468 Email: BexaMail@aol.com
British Library Business Information Service
A comprehensive service to help you find sources of products and services world-wide.
25 Southampton Buildings, Holborn, London WC2A 1AW, UK
Phone: 0207-412 7454 Fax: 0207-412 7453
British Chambers of Commerce
An umbrella organisation for local Chambers of Commerce. Contact BCC to find your local one. The BCC's export department also manages various services including:
- · The DTI Export Market Research Scheme which offers grants and advice to firms wishing to open up new markets abroad;
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- · LEXUS, a language awareness scheme where consultants advise you on your foreign language requirements.
Manning House, 22 Carlisle Place, London SW1P 1JA, UK
Phone: 0207-565 2000 Fax: 0207-565 2049 Email: info@britishchambers.org.uk
BCC Export Department Phone: 01203-694 484
Blind Business Association Tel: 01733 68228
Queensgate Business Centre, Portcullis House, Cromwell Road, Peterborough PE1 2EB
British Franchising Association Tel: 01491 578049
Franchise Chambers, Thames View, Newtown Road, Henley-on-Thames, Oxon RG9 1HG
Business Information Publications
Interested in doing business with local authorites and the government? This site gives information on tendering for the public sector, , facilitating business with government and a range of information for suppliers and would-be suppliers.
Business Links, TECs, LECs, LEDU, Enterprise Agencies
Business Links are one-stop shops that support new and existing businesses. They will put you in touch with your local business support agencies. These include TECs, LECs and LEDU, which are mainly interested in developing existing businesses.
They also finance local Enterprise Agencies, which are more geared to helping tiny businesses and start-ups, and offer business counselling and training, some of it free.
Through Business Links you can get in touch with your nearest:
- · TEC (Training & Enterprise Council) in England and Wales,
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- · LEC (Local Enterprise Company) in Scotland,
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- · Invest Northern Ireland in Northern Ireland
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- · Enterprise Agency
Business Link (England) enquiries phone: 0345-567 765;
Scottish Business Shops Signpost phone: 0800 78 78 78;
Local Enterprise Development Unit (LEDU) (Northern Ireland) phone: 01232-491 031;
Business Eye is a free, impartial information service created to find the answer to your business questions. Whether you are an established company, a new venture, a sole trader or an employer of hundreds, Business Eye is here to help - and if necessary will put you in contact with support from the public, private or voluntary sectors.
Business Eye can be contacted through:
Tel: 08457 96 97 98
Email: assistance@businesseye.org.uk
Website: http://www.businesseye.org.uk
Or by visiting one of the 31 local centres throughout Wales, details of which can be found on their website.
British Venture Capital Association Essex House, 12 - 13, Essex Street, London WC2R 3AA Tel: 0207 240 3846
Companies House Crown Way, Cardiff CF4 3UZ Tel: 01222 380801
All companies have to register at Companies House so if you want to find out more about a company you can check them out at http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/WebCHeck/fastrack/
Consumer's Association 2 Marylebone Road, London NW1 4DF Tel: 0207 486 5544
Crafts Council 44A Pentonville Road, London N1 9BY Tel: 0207 278 7700
Data Protection Registrar Tel: 01625 535777
Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF
DTI Overseas Promotion Service
Supports firms who wish to export and exhibit overseas.
[Relevant Country] Desk, Kingsgate house, 66-74 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6SW, UK.
Phone: 0207-215 5000 and ask for the relevant country's desk
Direct Marketing Association
Haymarket House, 1 Oxenden Street, London SW1Y 4EE Tel: 0207 321 2525
Direct Selling Association
29 Floral Street, London WC2E 9DP Tel: 0207 497 1234
Federation of Small Businesses
140 Lower Marsh, Westminster Bridge, London SE1 7AE Tel: 0207 928 9272
Forum of Private Business Tel: 01565 634467/8/9
Ruskin Chambers, Drury Lane, Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 6HA
HM Customs & Excise Tel: 01702 348944
Alexander House, 21 Victoria Avenue, Southend-on-Sea, Essex SS99 1AA
Independent Banking Advisory Service (IBAS) Tel: 01487 843444
North View, North Fen, Somersham, Huntingdon, Cambs PE17 3HW
Inland Revenue
Somerset House, The Strand, London WC2A 1LB Tel: 0207 438 6622
Institute of Export
Export House, 64 Clifton Street, London EC2A 4HB Tel: 0207 247 9812
http://www.intellectual-property.gov.uk/ is the Government-backed home of UK Intellectual Property on the Internet. They hope to bring you all the answers to your questions and all the resources you need to find your way through the IP jungle of Copyright, Designs, Patents and Trade Marks.
J4b is the FREE service that is revolutionising the way that businesses seek funding in the UK. By following 4 easy steps, in just a few moments, you'll have access to the most comprehensive, up-to-date list of grants available specifically to your type of business.
Lawyers For Your Business
for a list of local lawyers participating in this scheme Tel: 0207 405 9075
LiveWire (sponsored by Shell UK)
Offers nationwide business advice and assistance to young entrepreneurs aged 16-30 wanting to start a business.
Hawthorn House, Forth Bank, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3SG, UK
Phone: 0191-261 5584 Fax: 0191-261 1910
Email: shell-livewire@projectne.co.uk
In Northern Ireland:
The Young Business Centre, 103-107 York Street, Belfast BT15 1AB, UK
Phone: 01232-329 339 Fax: 01232-329 750
Email: enterprise@livewire.nireland.com
Mail Order Traders Association
25 Castle Street, Liverpool, L2 4TD Tel: 0151 227 4181 Fax: 0151 227 2548
National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux
115 - 123 Pentonville Road, London N1 9LZ Tel: 0207 833 2181
National Association of Teleworkers Tel: 01404 47467
Deer Park Telecentre, Weston, Honiton, Devon EX14 0PG
National Group on Homeworking
Office 26, 30 - 38 Dock Street, Leeds LS10 1JF Tel: 0113 245 4273
Office of Fair Trading Tel: 0207 242 2858
Field House, 15 - 25 Breams Buildings, London EC4A 1PR
Patent Office Tel: 01633 814000
Concept House, Cardiff Road, Newport, Gwent NP9 1RH
Prince's Youth Business Trust
Helps young people who are unemployed, under-employed or of limited means, aged between 18 and 30, to start their own business. A last resort funder, it offers business loans up to £5,000 and, in exceptional circumstances, bursaries.
18 Park Square East, London NW1 4LH, UK Phone: 0800-842 842. Fax 0207-543 1200
Rural Development Commission
141 Castle Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP1 3TP Tel: 01722 336255
Trading Standards have their own website at http://www.tradingstandards.net/ which contains a wide range of current and reference information which should be equally invaluable whether you are a consumer with a query or complaint, or if you are a business looking for advice on your legal obligations in this field, including legislation, faq, consumer issues, careers advice and much more.
Women's Local Employment Initiatives Programme
European Commission, 8 Storey's Gate, London SW1P 3AT
The Source
Contact details for market research firms, industry organisations, user groups and PR companies in one go.
United Kingdom Trade & Investment (UKTI), part of the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) have experts to help UK companies export and do business overseas. You'll find Business Opportunities, advice, profiles of potential markets and more. You can also discover their full range of services, some of which are available free.
Internet Marketing Strategies and Tips
Discover all of the insider internet marketing strategies and tips that the pros are using with great success.
