Bedford

Support Agencies

Business for People

Business for People offers services to people ages between 19-59 and who are in need of a career change whether healthy or facing barriers to employment.

Services offered:

Vocational guidance
Employment training
Work preparation
Redundancy advice
Supported employment
Open employment support
Access to work assistance
Advocacy and Advice/support to employers.

Contact
Business for People
Telephone: 01480 436753
Website: www.businessforpeople.org.uk

StartUp Britain

Campaign set by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs, designed to celebrate, inspire and accelerate enterprise in the UK. It delivers support and advice for start-up companies and companies looking to grow.

Contact: StartUp Britain
Website: www.startupbritain.org/

Venture Navigator

Venture Navigator is a free online business support service which helps individuals take their idea for a road test before they spend valuable time and money. Venture Navigator was created by the University of Essex and Library House in Cambridge to help the success rate of start ups in the UK.

Various online assessments available which range from General Business Viability, Leadership Skills, to Manufacturing Processes.
Find out more about key early stage business issues and search hundreds of articles written by business leaders and academics.
Post questions and receive impartial answers back from the 5000 registered.

Contact
VentureNavigator
Telephone: 01206 874102
Website: www.venturenavigator.co.uk

Wenta

Wenta is a not for profit enterprise agency, giving confidential and impartial advice, training and guidance for start-up, new and existing small businesses across Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire.

Contact:
Wenta
Tel: 01234 245 523
Website: www.wenta.co.uk/

Princes Trust

The Princes Trust Enterprise Programme supports unemployed young people aged 18-30 to convert their business ideas into reality. The programme can offer mentoring and financial support to start a business or mentoring support to secure goals in employment, education or training.

Help available:

Advice on employment options
Business skills training
Business planning support
Start-up funding
Ongoing support from a mentor
Access to a wide range of free and discounted products and services a free legal helpline.

Contact
The Prince's Trust East of England
Tel: 01438 730 520
Website: www.princes-trust.org.uk

Exemplas

Exemplas helps individuals that are thinking of starting-up or growing their business and will provide resources including the ability to give budding business people the tools and processes they need to assess the wide range of structured business formats available throughout the UK.

They hold unique interactive workshops, national and regional events and online resources which enable individuals to assess whether structured business formats could be a suitable alternative to start-up or growing their own business.

Contact
Exemplas
Tel: 0845 60 20 101
Website: www.exemplas.com

Smallbusiness.co.uk

Smallbusiness.co.uk gives support and advice on various areas when starting a new business.

Advice with:

Small business finance
Start-up funding
Small business advice
Setting up a company
Buying a franchise
Buying a business
Starting a business abroad
Legal help
Technology help and support

Contact
Online service only www.smallbusiness.co.uk

Startups.co.uk

Startups.co.uk gives support and advice on various areas when starting a new business.

Advice with:

Starting a business
Starting a franchise
Buying a business
Business planning
Setting up a company
Business financing
Business mentoring
Accounts
Marketing and PR
Setting up a website
Product suppliers
Sales
Technology
Green business
Legal issues
Insurance
Entrepreneur skills
Working from home
Finding business property
Taking on staff

Contact
Online service only www.startups.co.uk