Derbyshire Safeguard provides businesses within the County the ability to register their main key holders, access tailored business crime prevention advice and services in addition to information about local and national grant opportunities.
For more information,
A new tool from the Design Council called 'design out crime' helps businesses identify how they can reduce crime such as theft and vandalism through a free self assessment tool. (external website**)
Business Link is the main online channel through which High Peak businesses can access government support. It contains essential information, support and services for you and your business – whether you work for a large organisation or are on your way to starting up - and provides up to date, practical guidance on regulations and access to government services. It also has a number of useful online tools, calculators, and best practice case studies including podcasts of entrepreneurs discussing issues; and provides information on finance and wider support. There is also a helpline which is primarily to support people finding relevant information on website Tel: 0845 600 9006 It is open 24 hours a day, 365 days per year.
Business Link has launched an online awards finder to help local businesses identify award schemes that they may be eligible to enter in a drive to help them get the recognition they deserve.
Contact Business Link on 0845 058 6644 or visit awards finder. (External website**)
The free site offers businesses access to a list of quality-assured business mentoring organisations across Britain. An easy-to-use search engine allows businesses to refine their searches according to the life stage of their business and their location in Britain. The objective is to help businesses find a mentoring organisation to suit their needs in a fast and easy way. The site also allows business professionals to offer their services as a business mentor via the mentoring organisations listed.
Further Information (external website**)
Derbyshire & Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce is the main Chamber organisation serving the the area. With an ever-growing membership base of more than 3,200 businesses and 7,100 affiliates, it is the third largest chamber of commerce in the country. Its members benefit from the wide range of business support services, across both counties, which the Chamber also provides to the wider business community and to individuals seeking to gain employment through learning.
Local delivery is provided from 10 locations across both counties, including main offices in Derby, Chesterfield and Nottingham.
The Chamber offers members extensive networking opportunities and a wide range of discounted services. The Chamber also offers all members the ability to showcase their business, products and services to fellow members.
Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce has a training division which delivers a range of fully-funded training and assessment schemes to help both young people and adults get into employment. It also has a commercial training arm offering bespoke training courses for both employers and employees.
And firms that are worried about security and protection for their premises, customers and staff can access a bespoke BusinessWatch service which can provide tailored solutions to meet a wide range of budgets.
For more information about the Chamber and how its services can help you business, call 01246 207207.
The Derbyshire Economic Partnership has established an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) advice line (external website**) to assist businesses in the area to take full advantage of the opportunities that ICT can bring. Grant assistance may also be available for businesses looking to invest in new technology, develop e-commence capability, or develop online booking systems. To access the advice line, contact Business Link on 0845 058 6644.
Read the Derbyshire Well Connected leaflet (6.66MB) 
for further information.
Click here to access information on how to advertise vacancies, how to employ apprentices and school leavers, as well as a step by step guide to how to take on an employee.
Business Link, in partnership with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), has launched 'Basic PAYE Tools' to help local employers run their payroll systems. The new online resource replaces HMRC’s popular Employer CD-ROM. It includes all the CD-ROM’s interactive features plus an automatic update facility, to ensure the tools are up to date with the latest information and figures.
Employers who have used the CD-ROM will need the new tools for the remainder of the 2010 -11 tax year and for future tax years. The tools can be downloaded by visiting www.businesslink.gov.uk/basicpayetools (external website**).
HM Revenue and Customs' Business Payment Support (external website**) supports viable businesses who are experiencing difficulties in meeting tax obligations as a result of the current economic circumstances and could help spread tax liabilities over a period of time. If you're worried about being able to meet tax, NI, VAT or other payments owed to HMRC, or you anticipate that payments coming due will cause you problems, contact helpline. In addition, if your business anticipates making a trading loss in the current year you should mention this when you call the help line. If your business is still viable, and they agree your estimate of the loss, you can have the anticipated loss taken into account as part of any rescheduling.
Tel: 0845 302 1435 Open Monday-Friday 8am to 8pm, Saturday and Sunday 8am-4pm.
(Please note: The Support Line is intended for new enquiries only. If HM Revenue and Customs have already contacted you, please use this orginal office.)
This assists manufacturers with any issue relevant to productivity and efficiency. The Manufacturing Advisory Service (external website**) provides a quick query service to deal with a wide range of specific technical problems. It also provides:
A simple improvement action plan can be developed, free of charge, with further consultancy available at a subsidised rate. Advice is available covering a wide range of areas, such as lean manufacturing, ICT and Technology, waste management systems and environmental awareness, innovation. For further information, telephone 01664 501301, or email info@mas-em.org.
The Office of Fair Trading has launched a new online resource (external website**) to help sales staff comply with the law when customers buy or return goods - it aims to be a detailed guide to customers' rights and what the law says regarding customer returns presented in an easy to understand way.
Peak Directions (External website**) is a comprehensive website that details more than 400 links to a range of organisations that provide support and information for businesses and social enterprises in the Peak District area.
**Please note: High Peak Borough Council is not responsible for the content of any external websites.