Business planning
Information and advice to local small businesses on how to set up a successful business plan.
Federation of small businesses
The Federation of Small Businesses is a campaigning pressure group promoting and protecting the interests of the self-employed and owners of small firms.
Tel: 01462 451124
Email: maree.atkinson@ntlworld.com
Web: www.fsb.org.uk
Small businesses
Local businesses can take advantage of a variety of networks to get advice, training and information. Contact details of useful organisations are listed below:
Stevenage Business Initiative
Free practical help on starting up your own business. Our team of experienced business advisors will provide practical and confidential advice on developing a business idea, finance, legal issues, marketing, insurance, taxation, premises etc.
Tel: 01438 315733
Fax: 01438 310001
Email: info@sbi-herts.co.uk
http://www.sbi-herts.co.uk/
The Hertfordshire Business Incubation Centre
A modern site for new businesses, with 77 offices, 22 workshop units and two conference rooms. Secretarial and office services are provided and the new business incubation project fast-tracks new firms with a high growth potential.
Tel: 01438 310047
Fax: 01438 791081
Email: info@hertsbic.co.uk
http://www.hertsbic.co.uk/
Business Link East
Zenith Court
4 Bishops Square Business park
Hatfield
Hertfordshire
AL10 9NE
Phone: 0845 7 17 16 15
email: questions@businesslinkeast.org.uk
Web pages: www.businesslink.gov.uk/east
Business Link:-
- provides information, advice and access to experts on all issues relating to running a business
- is part of the network of local Business Link operators throughout England.
- aims to improve the competitiveness of Hertfordshire businesses so that they can profitably compete on a local, regional and international basis. It provides tailored support to organisations of any size at any stage in their development.
Information and advice given is practical, objective and impartial and can be on all business areas.
A wide range of business support workshops and seminars are available at regular intervals.
Grantfinder
Run by the Council, Grantfinder is a grant finding database which has access to over 3000 sources of funding.
Tel: 01438 242822
Fax: 01438 242922
Email: regeneration@stevenage.gov.uk
GRANTFinder
For Business Excellence (4BEX)
4BEX is a European funded initiative that provides business training, counselling and advice to owners and employees of independent businesses. Anybody who works for or owns a business with fewer than 50 employees in Stevenage is welcome to attend any 4BEX event.
Tel: 01442 867818
Incredit
Incredit has evolved from Enterprising Communities and exists to promote and support enterprise development amongst disadvantaged communities through training workshops, support services and access to micro-credit through a revolving loan fund. Their target groups are women, young people aged 16-30, members of BME communities and social enterprises.
Tel: 01438 794444
Fax: 01438 358039
Email: Sue.Lawton@incredit.org.uk
http://www.incredit.org.uk/
Employers for the Environment (E4E)
E4E won funding from Europe under the Interreg IIIB Encourage Initiative which has allowed the appointment of a project manager to oversee and manage the E4E programme. The aim of the project is to lower the environmental impact of business through waste minimisation, energy usage reduction, water savings and transport solutions.
E4E is predominantly an advisory body finding cost effective solutions for environmental issues. The project has facilitated free waste paper recycling for small and medium business. There are now nearly 50 companies in this scheme. E4E will be launching a materials exchange website for Hertfordshire business later this year. This will be another free service that enables business to divert their waste from landfill.
E4E Open forums are regular events where a specific environmental theme is presented. The June open forum will have energy conservation as its theme.
The Steering group members are ABB, Intrinsica, GSK, SBC, HCC, Fujitsu, and the Herts Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
For more information on the project, please contact Gill Hutchinson by email: gill.hutchinson@gb.abb.com or write c/o ABB Limited, Howard Road, Eaton Socon, St. Neots, Cambs. PE18 9EU.