Advice and support for new businesses
Please choose a category or scroll down through the information:
- Setting up a Business
- Business Advice
- Finding Premises
- Networking
- Regulation
- Funding
- Sustainability
- Training
- Young People
- Other useful agencies
- Information about Business in Dartford
Setting up a business
Setting up a new business can be a daunting experience but there are many sources of advice and guidance for the budding entrepreneuer.
Generally most start-ups benefit from producing the following documents right at the start so that they can be used to monitor progress and measure success:
- Business plan
commonly a plan is set both for the short term (1 yr) and a longer term (3-5yrs) so that you have an idea of how the business will develop - Marketing Plan
This document will outline the steps that you intend to take to promote your business, reach your customers and grow your business - Cashflow forecast
Although it may seem as though you are plucking figures from thin air, it is good practice to make an assumption about initial sales and produce a document that summarises your income against your expenditure (materials, wages, marketing, etc) so that you have a picture of how much cash is in the business 'kitty'. One major reason for new businesses failing is lack of cashflow. This document should assist you in forseeing any shortages and making the neccessary allowances.
If you are trying to raise capital to start your business, a bank or building society will probably want to see the above documents to confirm the feasibilty of your venture. They will certainly take you more seriously if you have these documents as it shows that you have considered all aspects of the business which already make you more likely to succeed.
Below are some links that you may find useful for support in starting up.
- www.newbusiness.co.uk
- www.startinbusiness.co.uk
- www.startups.co.uk
- www.smallbusiness.co.uk (Lloyds TSB)
- www.ukbusiness.hsbc.com/hsbc/sab (HSBC)
- www.natwest.com/smallbusiness (Natwest)
- www.barclays.co.uk/business (Barclays)
Business Advice
Business Link Kent
Business Link is a national business advice service, dedicated to making the UK the best place in the world to start and grow a business. Business Link Kent provides local businesses with quick, easy and local access to advice, information and skills which meet their specific needs - from the broadest range of private, public and voluntary business support services
26 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill,
West Malling, Kent ME19 4AE
Tel: 08457 226655
Fax: 01732 841109
Email: info@businesslinkkent.com
Website: www.businesslinkkent.com and www.startupkent.net and www.eventskent.com
Enterprise Agency of North Kent
The Enterprise Agency of North Kent is located in Gravesend and offers independent, not for profit, practical business support. This can assist start ups or existing businesses in finding customers, promoting products, writing a business plan, finding premises and employing people, along with a host of other things.
Unit 4, The Courtyard, 7a Manor Road,
Gravesend DA12 1AA
Tel: 01474 327118 Fax: 01474 335884
Email: info@businessnorthkent.co.uk
Website: http://www.eank.co.uk/
Federation of Small Businesses
The Federation of Small Businesses is an organisation that has been established to support small businesses.
Churchill House, 16 Churchill Road,
Dartford Kent DA4 9DP
Tel: 01322 862724
Email: house@fsbdial.co.uk
Website: www.fsb.org .uk
Inland Revenue Business Support Team
The Inland Revenue Business Support team offer a number of half day workshops that are designed for people in business, and are particularly suited for new and small businesses. The workshops are free and cover a wide range of issues
- Paying your employees
- Paying expenses and giving benefits to your employees
- Statutory Sick Pay
- Statutory payments and leave for maternity, paternity & adoption
- Completing your PAYE End of Year returns (workshop runs February to April)
- Setting up a limited company
- Expenses and benefits and completing your End of Year returns (workshop runs April to June)
- Calculating directors' National Insurance contributions
- Becoming self-employed
- Self Assessment for the self employed
- Construction Industry Scheme for contractors
The team also has a number of Business Advisors who can come out to your business for a one to one consultation. Again, this is a free service. They are willing to talk through any problems you may be experiencing. They can also check that your payroll system processes information accurately and reliably.
Inland Revenue Business Support Team, Anchorage House, High Street,
Chatham, Kent ME4 4QG
Tel: 01233 653673
Website: www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/bst
Link2Exports
Link2exports has been designed in partnership with the British Chambers of Commerce to provide specific information on countries worldwide for companies looking to export their products and services and increase the awareness of trade, investment and development opportunities.
- Website: www.link2exports.co.uk/regions.asp
Small Business Service
The Small Business Service is an agency of the Government's Department for Trade and Industry. The purpose of the Small Business Service is to enable Government to meet their objectives surrounding small businesses. The website details how they are intending to do this and also offers practical support on issues such as finance.
Small Business Service, Kingsgate House, 66-74 Victoria Street,
London SW1E 6SW
Tel: 0845 001 0031
Website: www.sbs.gov.uk/
Payroo.com
Payroo.com is an HMRC accredited 100% web-based free payroll service. It enables you to process your payroll and print your payslip from any Internet connection, whether you are working from your office, your home, or even from abroad. The service is FREE because it is sponsored by advertisements, much the same as other free services such as Yahoo and Google.
To use the service you simply need to sign up on our web site, in a similar way to signing up for an e-mail account.Once signed up you can instantly process your payroll over the net.The service is very quick and user friendly.
Finding Premises
Dartford Borough Council
- A list of available commercial property is available on this website.
- Take a stall at either of the Dartford Markets or contact the Market Manager on 01322 343812
Locate in Kent
Locate in Kent provide advice and assistance to companies that wish to move their business to Kent and Medway. The website include a property search facility for the whole of Kent and information about investing in the area.
Locate in Kent, 2 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill,
West Malling, Kent ME19 4AQ
Tel: 01732 520700
Email: enquiries@locateinkent.com
Website: www.locateinkent.co.uk
Networking
Best Practice Forum
Encourages businesses in the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism industry to introduce new ideas and innovation by adopting best practice - so raising their efficiency, productivity and competitiveness to world-class levels.
Address: Hospitality and Leisure Manpower, Burgoine House, Burgoine Quay, 8 Lower Teddington Road, Hampton Wick,
Kingston upon Thames KT1 4ER
Tel: 020 8977 4419
Fax: 020 8977 5519
Email: ifap@halm.co.uk
Website: www.bestpracticeforum.org
North Kent Chamber of Commerce
The Kent Thameside branch of the Chamber is based in Bluewater and provides business support for members and a certain amount of advice for non members. It is important to note that the Chamber exists as much more than just a networking forum, although this is part of their function. The Chamber can provide valuable information on starting a business, locations within the area, training, legal issues and international trading.
Bluewater Management Suite,
Greenhithe, Kent DA9 9ST
Tel: 01322 381333
Fax: 01322 381555
Email: enquiries@northkentchamber.org
Website: www.northkentchamber.org
PRIME Initiative
A national organisation that has been set up to support people over 50 who wish to become self employed. They offer support and loans and operate as a not for profit organisation.
Astral House, 1268 London Rd,
London, SW16 4ER
Tel: 0208 765 7851 and 0800 783 1904
Fax: 0208 765 7879
Email: prime@ace.org.uk
Website: www.primeinitiative.org.uk
Social Enterprise Coalition
The Social Enterprise Coalition provide support, advice and guidance to those businesses making profits but doing so for a social purpose.
54 Haymarket,
London SW1Y 4RP
Tel: 020 7968 4921
Website: www.socialenterprise.org.uk
Regulation
Sustainability
Environmental Business Service
Groundwork operate in Kent Thameside and their Environmental Business Service provides practical support, advice, information and training to companies on environmental business issues. They aim to encourage companies and their employees to be more aware of the environmental impact they may have on the community.
Groundwork Kent Thameside, The Manor Gatehouse, Priory Road,
Dartford DA1 2BJ
Tel: 01322 278827
Website: www.groundwork.org.uk/business or www.groundwork.org.uk/kent/ebs/GES%20index.htm
Kent Sustainable Business Partnership
The Kent Sustainable Business Partnership is dedicated to enabling local companies to improve their environmental performance and economic competitiveness. They have established egeneration Kent and Medway , which is a network of environment-business best practice websites as a tool for local businesses.
Website: www.egeneration.co.uk/kent/index.asp
Training
Enterprise Agency of North Kent
The Enterprise Agency of North Kent is located in Gravesend and offers independent, not for profit, practical business support. This can assist start ups or existing businesses in finding customers, promoting products, writing a business plan, finding premises and employing people, along with a host of other things.
Unit 4, The Courtyard, 7a Manor Road,
Gravesend DA12 1AA
Tel: 01474 327118
Fax: 01474 335884
Email: info@businessnorthkent.co.uk
Website: www.eank.co.uk
Investors in People
Investors in People is a national quality standard which sets a level of good practice for improving an organisation's performance through its people. Since 1991 tens of thousands of UK employers, employing millions of people, have become involved with the Standard and know the benefits of being an 'Investor in People'.
With the continued growth and up take of the Standard in the UK, international interest has been stimulated and continues to grow. For more information on becoming an 'Investor in People' see www.iipuk.co.uk
Learning and Skills Council
The LSC is responsible for the planning and funding of all education and training, post-16 in the county (except Higher Education). The Learning and Skills Council for Kent & Medway and BusinessLink Kent have launched a new initiative that will provide free training for small businesses - Profit from Learning. The training is done at a time to suit the business and the individual. To find out more phone 0800 528 2000 or go to the website www.profitfromlearning.co.uk * www.lsc.gov.uk/kentandmedway/Employer/default.htm
A Business Leader scheme has also been developed whereby CEOs and Managing Directors of businesses with fewer than 250 employees can be helped to build a personal development plan and have a grant of £1,000 towards appropriate development opportunities. Phone 08457 226655 for more details.
Young People
The Prince's Trust
The Prince's Trust helps young people by providing long term support to those who have the potential but few of the opportunities. The Prince's Trust business programme helps people aged 18-30 who want to set up a business by providing low interest loans, grants and mentors. For more information about this programme and the other courses The Prince's Trust runs, go to www.princes-trust.org.uk and click on Youth Zone, or call the South East Regional Office on 01252 891330
Other Useful Agencies
Community Mark
CommunityMark is a national based kitemark developed by Business in the Community, supported by the Home Office Active Community Unit and funded by the Small Business Service. Its purpose is to recognise, reward and encourage small and medium sized businesses who contribute or wish to contribute to their local community. For further information and details on how to apply for CommunityMark please contact Nigel Turley on 01322 291060 or go to www.communitymark.org.uk
Information about business in Dartford
Business Directory
A Business Directory is produced by the North Kent Chamber of Commerce
Bluewater Management Suite, Greenhithe,
Kent DA9 9ST
Tel: 01322 381333
Fax: 01322 381555
Email: enquiries@northkentchamber.org
Website: www.northkentchamber.org
Library Information
- A siginificant amount of information is held in local public libaries. For more information, see the pages on the Kent County Council website
Statistics
Detailed statistical information at a borough or ward level about skills levels, average earnings, unemployployment and other such issues that may be relevant to Dartford are available from the Office of National Statistics. The Labour Market profile available from Nomisweb website ( www.nomisweb.co.uk) is particularly useful and accessible.
Tel: 0845 601 3034
Fax: 01633 652747
Email: info@statistics.gov.uk
