The Council is keen to work with our partners to assist people to create new businesses, become self employed or grow their existing micro businesses. Information for people considering starting up a new business can be found here.
Business Link provides an online support service for people thinking of starting up in business and recently established businesses. 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; 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. .
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**)
Community Development Finance (external website**) Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs) lend money to businesses, social enterprises and individuals who struggle to get finance from high street banks and loan companies. They provide loans and support to:
Micro, small and medium businesses often have difficulty accessing the finance they need to help them to start trading or grow. This is because mainstream financial institutions could refuse to invest in businesses having little or no official track record, or no collateral. CDFIs provide business support, loans and occasionally other types of investments so that these businesses can realise their potential. In addition to serving conventional businesses many of these CDFIs also provide social enterprises.
£60 Million of Funding Available 2011-2014 - Nationally, the association that supports CDFI has just been awarded (in April 2011) £30 million from the Regional Growth Fund and £30 million of bank finance over the next three years. The funding will be used to support the financing and growth of CDFIs, and this money will be used to provide loans to businesses, social enterprises and individuals who are unable access financing through traditional sources.
There are a number of CDFI's covering the High Peak - and some work nationally. To find CDFI appropriate to your needs - Community Development Finance (external website**)
Derbyshire & Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce is the main Chamber organisation serving the area. With a membership base of more than 3,200 businesses and 7,100 affiliates, it is the third largest chamber of commerce in the country. Offers a wide range of business support services, including training and networking opportunities.
For more information about the Chamber and how it's services can help your business, call 01246 207207.
Derbyshire Enterprise Agency (external website**) has more than 25 years experience of helping small firms to survive and prosper as well as assisting enterprising individuals to get their business idea off the ground. DEA offers business start-ups in Derbyshire a wide range of support services, including:
For more information regarding business support services provided by Derbyshire Enterprise Agency please telephone 01246 212538 or email janet.howett@dncc.co.uk.
The East Midlands Early Growth Fund (External website**) provides equity based investments of between £20,000 and £200,000 for business start up and early stage businesses, which can demonstrate growth potential. This scheme is administered by E-Synergy Ltd, on behalf of the East Midlands Development Agency. For further information, contact E-Synergy Ltd on 01327 856 032.
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.
Enterprise Loans East Midlands (external website**) is a loan fund for business start-ups and existing companies, that have been turned away by conventional High Street lenders, such as banks. There are many entrepreneurial people, who struggle to obtain finance, perhaps due to a poor credit history, or because they do not have assets to use for security against loans.
This initiative is designed to help such people. Loans of between £3,000 and £20,000 are available. Lending decisions will be made on a commercial basis, with loans being repaid over one to five years at a fixed rate of 5% above base rate and at a minimum of 10.25%.
To qualify for funding from Enterprise Loans East Midlands, whether a new or existing business, applicants must have developed a business plan, approached a bank and been declined, and been referred by a business adviser, such as Business Link.
Entrepreneurs requiring further information about EnterpriseLoans East Midlands can either visit www.enterpriseloanseastmidlands.co.uk (external website**) or telephone 0845 602 7355.
The Federation of Small Businesses (External website**) is a subscription based lobbying organisation, which represents the interests of the self-employed, and people who direct small businesses. Members benefit from free legal advice covering employment law and commercial law; and access to tax advisers and preferential rates on a variety of business services. For further information, please contact Jan Stanley on 0808 20 20 888 ; or email customerservices@fsb.org.uk.
HM Revenue and Customs (External website**) offers free training courses for people who are thinking of working for themselves, or have just started working for themselves. The courses cover legislative and taxation issues regarding starting a new business, such as keeping records, filling in and filing tax returns, and employing people. For further information, contact the HM Revenue and Customs helpline on 08459 15 45 15.
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. The tools can be downloaded by visiting www.businesslink.gov.uk/basicpayetools (External website**).
Every week in the UK, about 2,000 people start a home-based business. Enterprise Nation is a web-based organisation, which aims to offer a single online destination for all those practising or interested in working from home. The Enterprise Nation website (External website**) includes weekly features, topical news stories and "how to" guides, with also a free monthly bulletin.
Live & Work Rural (external website**) - Open to anyone in High Peak including those in Buxton and Glossop. This project supports people to develop ideas for business and helps existing businesses explore ways in which they can 'green' their work. Ideas could range from home-based business, social enterprises, to early stages in traditional sectors. Some small grants available.
Tel: 01629 816338; e-mail: liveandworkrural@peakdistrict.gov.uk
The New Business - New Life website (External website**) provides information for starting a new business, including a free starter pack. There are also details of road shows, where people can get support and advice. To find out more, phone 0845 058 6644.
The Business and Enterprise College at New Mills School provides a wide variety of assistance to small businesses, including ICT facilities, fax, photocopying and reprographics facilities, all available at cost; meeting and conference facilities, including catering; and helping staff with their training needs and requirements.
The school is keen to set up links with local employers, as its students are willing and able to set up websites and databases at minimal cost. They can also carry out market research, product testing and help to brainstorm ideas for local businesses. For further information, visit the New Mills School Business and Enterprise College website (External website**).
Peak Directions provides a comprehensive website (External 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.
Podcasts for disabled people seeking jobs (external website**)is aimed at helping people with disabilities, impairments and long term health conditions who would love to get back to work. This mini-series covers support for disabled people seeking jobs, advice from specialists on disability employment and the experiences of people with disabilities in the workplace. Developed by Disability Dynamics Ltd, with support from Seeda & Express FM radio station.
The Prince’s Initiative for Mature Enterprise (PRIME) has launched a new loan scheme – the PRIME Business Start-Up Loan (External website**). This is designed to support people aged over 50 to get access to funds to become self-employed or set up their own business. Personal, unsecured loans ranging from £500 to £10,000 are available, with interest charged at 12% APR typical. There are no administration fees or early repayment charges. All reasonable business start up costs can be funded with the loan. For further details, email: prime@ageuk.org.uk or call Freephone: 0800 783 1904.
The TeenBiz, (external website**) scheme aims to provide teenage entrepreneurs with the tools needed to start their own businesses. It is designed to ignite an entrepreneurial interest among students who want to take their ideas to the next step and require assistance to make this happen. The objective is to help 100 young people who have fresh ideas, hunger and drive, to commence business operations over the next three years. Every month one student will receive up to £500 of funding. The money can be used towards a range of start-up costs.
The Prince's Trust (External website**) offers mentoring support and business loans to young people aged 18 to 30, who are unemployed or working less than 16 hours per week and who wish to start a new business. The Trust provides help with completing a business plan, business skill training as well as offering ongoing advice from a volunteer business mentor. Low interest loans of up to £2000 can be obtained in some instances. For further information, telephone 0800 842 842 or is 0116 2550400.
Armed Forces veterans looking to start their own business or become self-employed will be given more support under a new Government scheme. Delivered by the Royal British Legion, this scheme will provide eligible ex-service personnel with loans and grants to help them start and grow a business. The scheme, running from 1 April 2010 throughout the UK, will have 3 elements: Information, advice and guidance; Loans and Grants and Mentoring. To be eligible, you must have left the Services since the commencement of operations in Afghanistan (October 2001), or be a reservist who has seen active service since that date.
For further information or to register for support please visit www.civvystreet.org and/or contact the 'Be the Boss' dedicated free phone helpline on 0800 678 5787.
Small business rate relief is available to assist small businesses located in the High Peak. SBRR applies to single property businesses, with a rateable value of up to £10,000. If your rateable value is between £10,000 and £15,000, you will not get the percentage relief, but your bill may be recalculated using a lower rating multiplier. More information here.
The Peak District is a major visitor destination. Click here for more information on support for tourism business startup.
High Peak Borough Council spends about £3 million per year on goods and services. There is information here about forthcoming Council contracts and a guide on how to do business with the Council.
**Please note: High Peak Borough Council is not responsible for the content of any external websites.