National and local business support

National and local business support services

There have been major changes to the availability of public sector funded support for businesses.  Central government has scaled back the amount and type of support that is available, and more of the support is now on line or involves charges.  

However, there are still resources and organisations available that can help Camden’s businesses to grow.  

Camden is lucky to have a number of local enterprise organisations that run events and courses, offer networking opportunities and can provide specialist advice on a range of business issues.  They include CENTA, UCL Advances and the Business and IP Centre at the British Library. 

• business support organisations

The Business Link website is the national online resource for businesses and a useful starting point if you are looking for advice and support.  The website includes specialist areas for starting up a business, growing your business, a business support finder, and templates and tips for things like taking on staff and paying taxes.  

Business Link fund a number of specialist business support products that may be relevant to your business needs, covering issues such as accessing finance, design, research & development and networking.  For a detailed review of each product – including eligibility, time-scales and costs - please see our fact sheet:

• download: Solutions for Business Programme - December 2011 (PDF 26KB)

In summary the products are (click on the name of each product for delivery details):

1. High Growth Coaching - Coaching support to help high-growth Small to Medium sized Enterprises (SME’s) to overcome barriers to growth
2. Understanding Finance for Business - Free specialist advice on how to access funding to start and grow your business  
3. Finance for business - Loans of up to £250,000 and equity investment of up to £2 million aimed at new and high growth businesses  (see page 7)
4. Designing Demand - A design mentoring service for SME’s led by the Design Council to allow businesses to reduce risk, create openings with new markets and cut costs
5. Collaborative Research and Development - aimed at increasing knowledge and overcoming barriers around research and development activities
6. Grant for Research and Development – Grants to carry out research and development work on technologically innovative products and processes, again targeted at SME’s
7. Innovation Networks – this is a networking platform in the specific fields of technology or business innovation
8. Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) - specialist support for manufacturing companies
9. Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) - A UK wide programme enabling businesses to improve their competitiveness, productivity and performance by linking them with experts from higher and further education
10. Work place learning including apprenticeships - these products include the national apprenticeships programme, wider work place training and an SME management and leadership programme. (See page 18)
11. Helping your business grow internationally - Structured support to help businesses start exporting, improve exporting capabilities and enter new export markets
12. Improving your resource efficiency - A free range of resource efficiency support including efficiency tools, case studies, online advice and access to loans and grants.  

The information in the factsheet is correct as of December 2011 and will be periodically updated. 

Lastly, central government has established a network of mentors, to enable businesses to receive outside help.  For further information, visit www.mentorsme.co.uk