Start up and pre start support
Do you want to run your own business and need help getting started? If your considering starting a new business, going self-employed or been trading for less than one year there is plenty of support available to help.
GOV.UK
For information on setting up a business, writing a business plan, applying for a start-up loan and much more, please visit the .GOV site
Creative Enterprise SELLING YOUR ART
Creative Enterprise - COURSE 1 - Planning for Enterprise
Do you have an arts or crafts product that you would like to start selling… and are you wondering about project planning, pricing a product and marketing?
If yes, then this introductory course could be for you.
This Planning for Enterprise course is a practical introduction to learn how to launch your own creative business and will give you the opportunity to share your experience and receive support to develop your ideas.
Creative Enterprise - COURSE 2 - Sell your Crafts
The Sell your Crafts course will help you to develop your creative project further and get it up and running.
You will learn how to:
• price the products you want to sell
• research current market trends
• undertake market research
• understand legalities involved with running a small business
• learn to photograph or present your products
• promote your craft on social media
• promote on your own craft stall
These courses run for two hours each week over 10 weeks. They are not a creative course in the sense of teaching craft - they are for developing existing skills into selling opportunities.
The courses are free and held at various venues in the borough. For more information, please call Adult and Community Learning on 01384 818143 or email: acl@dudley.gov.uk
Great Business
Government backed website providing general information and business helpline to support you start up a new business including how to set up and register a company.
HMRC
HMRC has a variety of useful online support tools for new and pre-start businesses including e-learning products that will provide relevant guidance to those who are looking to set up a business of their own. They currently have two e-learning modules available: Starting Your Own Business and Becoming An Employer.
Raise Program
Access to Business and SWEDA (Skills Work and Enterprise Development Agency), are proud to launch their ‘RAISE’ program – (Raising Aspirations, Inspiring Self-Employment and Social Enterprise’ project). The project delivers support to entrepreneurs in the Black Country to set up and run their businesses, specifically targeting new and early stage entrepreneurs.
The Prince's Trust Enterprise Programme
Are you aged 18 to 30, living in the UK and have a business idea or some ideas to explore? If you’re ready to be your own boss, sign up to the Prince’s Trust Enterprise programme in person or try the new, flexible online platform, with e-mentor support, to help guide you through all the key steps that will help make your enterprise a big success.
Find out more
https://www.princes-trust.org.uk/help-for-young-people/support-starting-business
Virgin Start Up Loans
Virgin Start Up Loans is a not-for-profit organisation that helps entrepreneurs in England get funding, resources and advice. Its main focus is to help people to get the support they need to turn a great idea in to a successful and sustainable business.
MINIMUM FUNDING: £500
MAXIMUM FUNDING: £25,000
Start Up Loans
For those with dreams to start and run their own business, the government-backed Start Up Loan service might just be the break you’ve been looking for. Alongside the low-interest loan, successful applicants can access free mentoring from experienced advisers.
MINIMUM FUNDING: £500
MAXIMUM FUNDING: £25,000
Black Country Chamber of Commerce Start-Up Club
The Start-Up Business Club offers members two years of business support including a series of specially-designed masterclasses tailored to addressing the specific needs of start-ups. The club also offers a dedicated Account Manager, networking opportunities, mentor matching and access to tools and guides through an online Start-Up dashboard.
For more information, contact Alison Trinder on 01902 912 301 or 07980 906921, alternatively email alisontrinder@blackcountrychamber.co.uk
Entrepreneurial Spark
Entrepreneurial Spark is the world's largest free people accelerator for early stage and growing ventures. Entrepreneurial Spark Enablers you to work shoulder to shoulder with Entrepreneur Development Managers from NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland and Ulster Bank who utilise local ecosystems to help make entrepreneurs credible, backable and investable.
Expert advice and support for small businesses at Enterprise Nation