The Council is keen to work with our partners to assist in the creation of new businesses and the survival of existing ones in the High Peak. Information for small businesses and people considering starting up a new business can be found here.
Business Link East Midlands (external website**) provides a free comprehensive support service for people thinking of starting up in business and recently established businesses. One to one appointments can be made to meet a small business adviser at venues in Buxton, Glossop and New Mills. Businesses can also benefit from a number of free training workshops.
For further information, contact the East Midlands Business Enquiry Hub on 0845 058 6644.
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 155 0 144.
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.
The Prince's Trust (External website**) offers funding and mentoring support to young people of ages 18 to 30, who are unemployed or under-employed, and who wish to start a new business. The Trust provides help with completing a business plan, as well as offering ongoing advice from a volunteer business mentor. Low interest loans and/or a small grant can be obtained in some instances. For further information, contact Mark Rushworth on 01298 28389 or 07909 545000.
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.
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.
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.
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.
EnterpriseLoans 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 Enterprise Loans East Midlands can either visit www.enterpriseloanseastmidlands.co.uk (external website**) or telephone 0845 602 7355.
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.
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 01629 825 314; or email ro.nottsandderby@fsb.org.uk.
A new programme, entitled "Raising the Game -Enhancing rural productivity and improving quality of life in the Peak District through Sustainable Micro-Enterprise Development' will bring a range of grants to existing small & medium sized business and business start ups excluding the central wards of Glossop (Hadfield) and Buxton.
Grants from £3,500+ will be available with a focus on micro businesses (under 5 employees), home based businesses, businesses led by young people (under 30 years) or women; and community enterprises. There will also be separate strand for land based sector businesses. Match funding will be required normally at rate of 50%.
The scheme is not yet open to applications (proposed start date late April 2008), any interested parties should bookmark this webpage for further developments and details of how to apply which will be updated as soon as received.
For further information e-mail helenp@highpeak.gov.uk.
Grants of between £250 and £1,000 are available to businesses with between two and 4,999 employees are available at a 50% rate for Leadership & Management Training Grants (External website**). Up to 12 individuals per business are eligible. For further information, or to make an appointment to discuss your needs, please contact a Business Link adviser on 0845 058 6644 or email info@businesslinkem.co.uk. Details of the funding available, and how to apply, can be found in this leaflet:
The Chapel Training Club is supported by the University of Derby, Buxton, and situated on site at Federal Mogul Friction Products Ltd in Chapel-en-le-Frith, to provide competitively priced Basic and Information Technology Skills training for local businesses and the wider community. Training is delivered in a flexible and friendly environment and enrolments take place throughout the year. In addition, the University of Derby, Buxton, is able to provide free training for some business sections, through Train to Gain. For further information, please telephone 01332 594650 or 01332 594654; or email enterprise@derby.ac.uk.
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**); contact Sue Waldron on 01663 743 284, or email sue@newmills11-18.derbyshire.sch.uk
**Please note: High Peak Borough Council is not responsible for the content of any external websites.