Business support and advice

There are various external sources of help, advice and guidance for those looking to start a business. Visit the websites below for useful help and advice.

Gov.uk

Start up information available on this website includes:

• Before you start/business planning
• Forming your business
• Setting up your workplace
• Tax, payroll and company information
• Employing people
• Managing your business
• Further support for your business
• Growing your business

HM Revenue and Customs

HM Revenue and Customs provides guidance and what you need to know when starting a business.

Information on this site includes what you need to do for tax and national insurance purposes when you start up a business as a self employed person, a partnership or a limited company including what records you must keep.

Further advice is also available on importing and exporting goods and services.

Business Lincolnshire

Business Lincolnshire provides local business information including business start up advice for the local area. This is a national site that links you to contacts and networking groups, signposting you to advice and grant schemes and services that can help you start your business and grow.

A local coronavirus helpline is now open. Please call 01522 782 189 and select option 3 for businesses. The helpline is open between 9:00am to 5:00pm.

Princes Trust

The Princes Trust offers an Enterprise Programme, this programme supports young people aged 18-30 wishing to start in business. It helps individuals explore their business ideas into self employment and introductions to other support available in terms of courses and grants that are available.

There is also online support which includes guides and a business plan pack of materials to help you start planning your business.

Lincolnshire Research Observatory 

The Lincolnshire Research Observatory provides access to intelligence on the population, health, the economy and many other topics providing key information on a range of local issues within a specific chosen search area.

This service can help you find out more about the market and trends within Lincolnshire, a useful insight when considering changes to your products or services.

Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce 

The Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce is a membership organisation providing business support and advice and beneficial introductions to contacts, networking events, training, events promotion and partnership working opportunities. They also maintain a business directory.

The Environmental Technology Centre 

The ETC at the University of Nottingham was established specifically to help businesses to make improvements through the adoption of more efficient use of resources, environmentally friendly working practices and the use of cleaner and more sustainable technologies.

Free and subsidised support

Future Factory offers creative solutions for any SME in the East Midlands wanting to improve their environmental sustainability. They offer bespoke support to their clients which is fully funded or heavily subsidised.

Future Factory is jointly funded through Nottingham Trent University and ERDF.

Please contact the team for more information on 0115 848 8675 or email futurefactory@ntu.ac.uk.