business support networks

Business Support

SME:

Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs): enterprises which employ fewer than 250 persons and which have an annual turnover not exceeding 50 million euro, and/or an annual balance sheet total not exceeding 43 million euro.

UK Business: Activity, Size and Location, 2012. ONS.

Salford/Greater Manchester.

European, national, regional, sub-regional, local.

‘New’ business.

Micro Small Medium SMEs

Employees 0-9 10-49 50-249 0-249 250+ TotalUK 2,163,610 359,505 75,795 2,598,910 11,625 2,610,535Salford 6,290 1,285 295 7,870 60 7,930

Most important:

Friends/family.

Not included in this summary:

Accountant, solicitor, etc. etc.

Your university/school/college and groups aimed specifically at students.

Housing associations.

Trade associations, networking groups, FSB, CBI, European Fisheries Fund, Northwest Aerospace Alliance, rural enterprise, recruitment.

Oil companies. The taxman.

Many, many more.

Europe:

European Small Business Portal: www.ec.europa.eu/small-business/

Enterprise Europe Network: www.een.ec.europa.e/

UK:

BIS: www.bis.gov.uk

www.gov.uk

Business Link Helpline: 0845 600 9006. Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm.

StartUp Britain: www.startupbritain.org

‘A national campaign by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs’ ‘completely funded by our private-sector sponsors (BT Business, Dell, Intel, Intuit, Iris and PayPal)’

British Library Business & IP Centre: www.bl.uk/bipc

Technology Strategy Board: www.innovateuk.org

UK Trade & Investment (UKTI): www.ukti.gov.uk

Local:

GM Chamber: www.gmchamber.co.ukSolutions Group: www.economic-solutions.co.uk

Business Growth Hub: www.businessgrowthhub.com

Ask About Business: www.askaboutbusiness.org

Blue Orchid Management Consultants: The largest provider in Business Start Up Support in the North West. www.theblueorchid.co.uk

The Business Group: www.thebusinessgroup.org

MIDAS: www.investinmanchester.com/property-search/

Salford City Council: http://www.visitsalford.info/locate/

Sector specific:

Creative England: A dedicated support agency for the creative industries outside London. www.creativeengland.co.uk

pro•manchester: Corporate membership organisation representing the financial and professional service community in and around Greater Manchester.www.pro-manchester.co.uk

Arts Council: www.artscouncil.org.uk

Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS): consultancy support for manufacturing businesses High Performance Purchasing. www.mymas.org

North West Textile Network: www.nwtexnet.co.uk

British Retail Consortium etc. etc.

Tailored support:

The Women’s Organisation: www.thewomensorganisation.org.uk

Prowess 2.0: www.prowess.org.uk

Startup: www.startupnow.org.uk

The Prince’s Initiative for Mature Enterprise: www.prime.org.uk

New Enterprise Allowance.

ELIE: www.elie-project.eu

Carbon Trust: www.carbontrust.com

The Guardian small business network: www.guardian.co.uk/small-business-network

UnLtd: www.unltd.org.uk

Locality: www.locality.org.uk

Co-operatives North West: www.cooperatives-nw.coop

Co-operative Enterprise Hub: www.co-operative.coop/enterprisehub

Social Enterprise UK: www.socialenterprise.org.uk

CAN: www.can-online.org.uk

Social Enterprise Northwest: www.senw.org.uk

Growth Accelerator: www.growthaccelerator.com Mentorsme: www.mentorsme.co.uk

RBS Inspiring Enterprise: www.inspiringenterprise.rbs.com

Co-op Bank, Lloyds, HSBC etc. etc.

Grants/funding:

Funding Central: www.fundingcentral.org.uk

Access to Finance (A2F): www.a2fnw.co.uk

Charles Camilleri Foundation: www.charlescamilleri.org

The Social Investment Business Group: www.sibgroup.org.uk

The North West Fund: www.thenorthwestfund.co.uk

Social finance, business angels, crowd funding, start-up loans, etc. etc.

www.thebusinessgroup.org