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Business start-up resource directory

• When it comes to knowing how to set up your own small business, having working in a big company doesn't necessarily equip you for running it successfully. If you're used to calling up the Helpdesk when your computer breaks down, getting your HR Department to sort out your payroll and people issues, and the Finance Department to keep your budgets, expenses and accounts payable in order, you may not have fully appreciated how valuable and important all those skills and resources are.
• So, you may need to acquire and learn to use those 'how to run your own business' skills yourself, in which case you should visit the training section, or you may want to work with service companies who can provide virtual HR or IT services.
• There may be other important services you need to set up or run your business - that's why we started up this directory, dedicated to helping you to find the help you need from people who want and know how to work with smaller or start-up businesses. We'll be adding to this section constantly so please keep checking in to see what's new.
• Want to advertise in the directory? If you are a supplier in this category and would like to be considered to feature in the directory, please visit the advertise with us page for more details.

BCentral.co.uk BCentral is Microsoft's site for small business - lots of interesting information about using technology to run your business.

British Association for Women Entrepreneurs (BAWE) British Association for Women Entrepreneurs.

British Chambers of Commerce British Chambers of Commerce - useful for finding your local chamber for networking and business information. The BCC is the national body for a powerful and influential network of Accredited...

Business Link If you register on the national Business Link website you can access all kinds of valuable information about starting up and maintaining a business. It is primarily funded by the Department of...

Confederation of British Industry The Confederation of British Industry is one of the UK's leading independent employers' organisation. Representing over 250,000 public and private sector companies - the site...

HM Revenue and Customs The Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise Dept combined. Find out about tax for yourself, your company or your employees, VAT registration, rules and regulations.

Information Commissioner Office responsible for the enforcement of the UK Data Protection Act 1998 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Find out if your business has any data protection issues from the Office of the...

Institute of Directors Institute of Directors - Membership organisation for individual company directors with an impressive HQ on Pall Mall which is useful for holding meetings ,and other offices in Europe. One off fee of...

Is4profit.com is4profit provides small business with free & relevant Business Advice (guides, plans, factsheets), Small Business Directory , plus Business Services for startups & established...

Out-Law.com OUT-LAW has 6,000 pages of free legal news and guidance , mostly on IT and e-commerce issues. These issues can affect any organisation, and OUT-LAW is as much for those in a software start-up as...

Patent Office UK Patent Office . Essential for protecting your ideas and finding out about copyright, trademarking, what you can and can't patent and how to submit applications. They publish lots of useful...

Prowess Prowess is a network of organisations and individuals who support the growth of women's business ownership. Their work encompasses raising awareness, sharing of best practice, advocacy and...

Social Enterprise Coalition Social Enterprise Coalition - What is social enterprise? Social enterprises are dynamic businesses with a social purpose working all around the UK and internationally to deliver lasting...

Startups.co.uk Startups.co.uk is your number-one online resource for starting a business. Whether you are a budding entrepreneur ready to start a business for the first time or you are an established entrepreneur...

Tavistock Tavistock - Find Offices & Business Centres in London, the UK and Worldwide. They offer confirmed appointments to view serviced offices, business centres and managed workspace and help in the...

The British Library A valued partner of newlifenetwork.co.uk, the British Library IP and Business Centre situated close to London's King Cross is a fantastic resource for budding entrepreneurs. Supported by the London...

The Institute of Chartered Accountants The Institute of Chartered Accountants , ICAEW, is one of Europe's major professional accountancy organizations. Find an Accountant, access business guides, advice on Accountancy as a career.

The National Federation of Enterprise Agencies The National Federation of Enterprise Agencies (NFEA) is the membership body for Local Enterprise Agencies, and other like-minded organisations, in England. It forms a network of independent, not...

The Princes Trust The Princes Trust: Business support and loan finance for young entrepreneurs. Are you aged 18-30, unemployed, living in England, have an idea for a business but can't raise all the cash you need...

The Small Business Advice Service The Small Business Advice Service - Free and independent business advice to anyone thinking about starting or running a small business in England. Advice is provided by 200 accredited business...

The Trade Association Forum The Trade Association Forum - Definitive guide to trade associations, federations and guilds in the UK, backed by the CBI, the DTI. Great for industry research and networking. They aim to...

Trading Standards Trading Standards Central - a one stop shop for consumer protection information in the UK. The site is supported and maintained by TSI, the Trading Standards Institute. This site provides a wealth...

WiRE WiRE stands for Women in Rural Enterprise and has been offering business support to women in rural business since 1996, when research conducted by senior lecturer Izzy Warren-Smith at Harper...