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Summaries of local and national support, funding, events and networking.

BITC - Business in the Community

BITC work with their members to continually improve responsible business practices.

Growth Impact Fund

Social investment funding for organisations with growth, improved equality and diversity goals.

Building Research Establishment - (BRE)

BRE is an innovative group of researchers, scientists, engineers and technicians whose shared goal is to make the built environment better for all.

UK Business Climate Hub

The UK Business Climate Hub is an opportunity to join thousands of other businesses tackling climate change.

Carbon Trust

Carbon Trust supports businesses, governments and organisations around the world in planning for a sustainable, low carbon future.

Social Enterprise UK

Information resources, advice, and membership organisation for people starting and running a social enterprise in the UK.

Ordering Certified Copies & Certificates via Companies House

Information on how to request certified copies & certificates via companies house.

Deutsche Bank – Made For Good​

The Deutsche Bank enterprise programme for social good,

Government agency scams

Fraudsters send out official looking letters or emails to ask for money or personal information when committing a Government agency scam.

Corporate Identity Theft

Information and guidance on Corporate Identity Theft and what to do if you fall victim.

Useful Guides for Data Protection

A range of online resources around protecting data in your business.

Financial Ombudsman Service

The Financial Ombudsman has official powers to sort out complaints between small and micro enterprises, charities and trusts, and financial businesses.

Big Issue Invest

Big Issue Invest assists the growth of sustainable social enterprises by providing finance to organisations that create a positive social impact.

Thrive Together Fund

The Thrive Together Fund (TTF) provides a funding package of loan (75%) and grant (25%) to eligible charities and social enterprises in England

Flexible Finance Fund

4m of funding and support to 15-25 Black and Racially Minoritised charities and social enterprises in England with a material package of funding and support

Big Society Capital

Big Society Capital connects capital with social enterprises, charities and social purpose organisations.

Chartered Institute of Arbitrators - (CIARB)

CIArb is an international centre of excellence for the practice and profession of alternative dispute resolution (ADR).

CDFI - Community Development Finance Institutions

CDFIs are a type of social enterprise that provides support and lends money to businesses and people who struggle to get finance from high street banks.

Setting up a CIC

Information and guidance on how to set up a Community Interest Company.

Useful Resources and Contacts

Resonance Social Impact Investment Funds

Investment opportunities for the community/voluntary sector.

Co Operatives UK

Support for co‑ops to start up and thrive through access to expert advice, events and training.

UnLtd - Starting your social business

Funding and support on offer to social entrepreneurs looking to start a social enterprise.

UnLtd - Growing your social business

Funding and support on offer to social entrepreneurs looking to grow their social enterprise.

RICS - Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors

Information on the professional body that accredits professionals within the land, property and construction sectors.

British Chambers of Commerce

The British Chambers of Commerce help firms of all sizes to achieve more.

Better Business for All

Better Business for All helps you to find what you need to do to achieve or maintain compliance for your business.

VCSE Strength Checker

File Your CIC Accounts Online

Understand how to file your CIC accounts online.

UnLtd - Support for Social Entrepreneurs

Support available to social enterprises including online resources, mentoring, network events and more.

Community Ownership Fund

Provides matched funding for community organisations to help run community-owned businesses.

The Commonwealth Games Inclusive Communities Fund

The Inclusive Communities Fund will support local communities to propose and implement solutions to real issues in their areas, allowing local people to drive positive change.  

Go4Growth Programme

Support to access public sector procurement/tender opportunities

NESTA

NESTA is an innovation charity with a mission to help people and organisations bring great ideas to life.

Persons with Significant Control and the PSC Register

Legislation and guidance on Persons with Significant Control.

TV Licensing for Clubs and Community Groups

Information and regulations for clubs and community groups around TV licensing.

CIC Regulator

The regulator for Community Interest Companies.

Entrepreneurial Spark

Help for entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs to find new ways to develop their business, local economies and communities.

Registering a CIC - Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to frequently asked questions providing information on registering a Community Interest Company.

BT Skills For Tomorrow

Support from BT to assist businesses in enhancing their digital skills

Google Digital Garage

Google Digital Garage offers training and events on improving your business digitally in various locations across the UK.

Shaw Trust

Support for disabled and disadvantaged people to prepare for work or start a business.

Facebook for business

Are you looking to create more of an impact with your business on Facebook?

TV Licensing for Residential Landlords

Information for landlords regarding TV licensing regulations.

Future Learn

Brush up on your digital basics with free courses from Future Learn

Single Use Plastics - Regulations for Packaging Producers

Information on the regulations that will apply to producers of certain types of plastic packaging materials.

Business Finance Guide

The Business Finance Guide provides businesses with information on the finance options that are available to them throughout their business finance journey.

TV Licensing for Hospitality

Information and regulations regarding TV licensing for hospitality venues.

Startups.co.uk

Online resource for people starting and growing a business.

LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIn Learning offers online video courses delivered by experts in many business topics

National Careers Service - Skills Toolkit

The National Careers Service has created a finder tool to help you source free skills training.

OpenLearn

Free business-related courses offered by the Open University.

The Climate Pledge Fund

A corporate venture capital fund investing in companies across multiple sectors that can help Amazon achieve its goal to be a net-zero carbon.

Certificate of Free Sale - Import Licensing Branch (ILB)

The DBT Import Licensing Branch's Import Case Management System for the issue of import licences and Certificates of Free Sale (CFS) for exporters.

ICO - Complaints about unsolicited sales and marketing calls

Information and guidance on how to make complaints about unsolicited sales and marketing calls.

Patent Box

Patent Box provides a reduced rate of Corporate Tax if it exploits patented inventions and innovations.

Research and Development (R&D) Tax Relief for Corporation Tax

Information and guidance on claiming tax relief for research and development costs.

Closing a Limited Company with an outstanding Bounce Back Loan (BBL)

Information on closing a limited company with an outstanding Bounce Back Loan

Subsidiaries, trading as business names, umbrella companies

Guidance on the sub-structure options for limited companies.

Co-operative & Community Finance

Free Legal Support for Social Enterprises

Changes to Company Law - Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act

Legislation with a range of measures to reduce fraud in companies and partnerships registered at Companies House

Procurement, tenders and winning contracts in Cumberland

Organisations that provide support and guidance to help win contracts through procurement and tender opportunities.

Online Centres Network - Digital advice centres

Online Centres Network is overseen by the Good things Foundation which is the UK’s leading digital inclusion organisation.

Open To Export

Open to Export is a not for profit social enterprise dedicated to helping UK companies grow through export.

Pluss

Pluss are recognised as one of the leading national disability employment specialists in the UK.

Amazon Small Business Accelerator

The upgraded Accelerator is now available on Amazon and offers a suite of free-to-use resources for all startups, entrepreneurs and small or medium-sized businesses.

Connected Places

Connected Places Catapult is the UK’s innovation accelerator for cities, transport, and places.

Youth Employment UK

Youth Employment UK is an independent, not for profit social enterprise founded in 2012 to tackle youth unemployment.

eCommerce Directive and selling online to customers in the EU

10,000 Small Businesses Programme - Goldman Sachs

Goldman Sachs Small Business Programme helps entrepreneurs create jobs and economic opportunities by providing access to education and business support.

CICM - Chartered Institute of Credit Management

The Chartered Institute of Credit Management (CICM) is the largest recognised professional body in the world for the credit management community.

HSE - Health and Safety Executive

The Health and Safety Executive provides a range of information, resources and webinars for businesses.

Good Things Foundation

Good Things Foundation is a charity that helps to tackle digital and social exclusion by providing people with the skills and confidence they need to access digital technology.

UKRI - UK Research and Innovation

UK Research and Innovation collaborate with other research centres to build an inclusive research and innovation system.

Energy Saving Trust

The Energy Saving Trust offers impartial advice for business, communities and households on how to reduce carbon emissions, reduce fuel bills and much more.

Non-Executive Directors (NED)

Information on Non-Executive Directors and what Non-Executive Directors can bring to your business.

Webinars and guidance - selling to government and the public sector

Resources for businesses looking to tender for public sector or government contracts.

Community Shares Unit

Community Shares Unit provides resources and guidance via the website including a directory of businesses with Community Shares and listings for news and events.
More Summaries of local and national support, funding, events and networking.