Open to businesses in North West England, including schemes for the wider region and the whole country.
North West England's page: people to ring, events nearby and what is only for North West England
Open to businesses across England or the UK, including North West England.
Institute of Directors
A membership community for directors and leaders, offering networking, learning resources, and advice services. Membership is open to aspiring directors and those with senior responsibilities, with different tiers available.
Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas)
Acas offers free, impartial advice on employment rights, rules and best practice, free letters, forms and policy templates, help to resolve disputes without an employment tribunal, and courses and tailored support on employment topics. It is for employees and employers.
My Community
A free online hub of advice, tips and resources from voluntary sector organisations, for community-run businesses (such as community pubs, shops and community centres) and community groups, on topics such as governance, funding and finance, and protecting community assets.
Department for Education (DfE)
The Department for Education's online service listing training and employment schemes, such as apprenticeships, that help businesses recruit new staff and upskill existing employees.
UK Finance
An online gateway that lets growing businesses search a list of verified business mentoring organisations in their area. Aimed at growing businesses seeking guidance from experienced business professionals.
Leeds Angels
Startups that are raising can pitch in person to the Leeds Angels group of investors, which meets quarterly in Leeds and hears three startups at each meeting.
Broadway Initiative
A free online hub providing sustainability advice for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with success stories from other businesses.
FutureDotNow
A free online tool that gives organisations a personalised digital and AI readiness report on their workforce. Aimed at employers building workforce digital skills.
NatWest
A free set of advice, articles, lessons, toolkits, smart tools and training for business owners, from idea stage to growth. Users can go at their own pace.
Enterprise Nation
Free digital skills training for small businesses, including online workshops, regional bootcamps, expert blogs and videos, a podcast and free digital marketing templates. Delivered as a joint initiative with Vodafone Business.
Office of the Small Business Commissioner
Free, confidential help for small UK businesses with an unresolved payment dispute with a larger customer, including unpaid invoices and non-payment queries.
Google
Free online AI courses, badges and job-ready career certificates from Google to help individuals and small businesses build digital and AI skills. Some courses are paid through Coursera.
Digital Boost
Free one-to-one guidance and mentoring sessions with volunteer mentors for people starting or running a business, covering topics from strategy to marketing, tech and finance.
Amazon
A suite of free-to-use online courses and videos on building a business online, growing sales, operations and social media, for startups, entrepreneurs and small or medium-sized businesses. Run by Amazon.
Make UK
Membership of Make UK, a manufacturing business network, offering networking, advisory boards, briefings and access to a member-only portal. Tiers are Essentials, Enhanced and Add-ons.
TCoE
Membership of the TCoE, a not for profit, industry owned training company for textile manufacturers and associate companies with an interest in the sector, giving discounted services, grant support, and access to the manufacturing supply chain.
RISE
RISE Direct is a support service for organisations in the retrofit supply chain. After a self-assessment, businesses are matched with a RISE Direct Support Manager who provides a tailored support plan on retrofit readiness, procurement routes, partnerships and training.
HM Revenue & Customs
A tax relief scheme for early-stage companies raising money by issuing new shares; individual investors who buy the shares get the tax relief. Companies can receive up to £250,000 through the scheme.
HM Revenue & Customs
A tax relief that companies apply to use to raise money from investors, who receive the relief. The company issues shares, completes a compliance statement (EIS1) and sends it to HMRC; if HMRC agrees it issues a compliance certificate (EIS3) for investors.
Enterprise Nation
Free membership offering business support, events, learning resources, networking and connections for small business founders and owners across the UK. Also promotes the NatWest Accelerator, Powering Local Businesses grants, Google Digital Garage workshops and Supply Connect.
Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade
The UK government's Business Growth Service gives free, impartial advice, expert-led training through the Business Academy, and personalised guides to one-to-one support, opportunities and funding, through Business.gov.uk and a network of partner organisations.
HSBC UK
A free programme of training, events, insights and AI support designed to help small businesses grow and build resilience. It is open to all and run by HSBC UK.
A police-led, not-for-profit organisation that helps businesses protect themselves from cybercrime through free and paid memberships, offering practical cyber security advice, tools, resources and resilience services.
British Library, Business & IP Centre (British Library)
Free business support, workshops, one-to-one advice and business and IP information at the British Library and over 70 libraries across the UK, for people starting, running or growing a business.