Business Support

 Lloyds Bank and the Bank of Scotland Social Entprepreneurs Programme gives social entrepreneurs the best possible chance of success by providing access to support and funding.

To date the Lloyds Bank Social Entrepreneurs Programme has supported 450 social entrepreneurs.

The programme is open for applications between February and April each year. There are two courses on offer, Start up and Scale up.

• Start up will help you get a new organisation up and running
• Scale up will help you grow a sustainable social enterprise.

For more information please go to the SSE website.

 The AGE 16-24 grant for employers aims to support businesses, who would not otherwise be in a position to do so, to receruit individuals aged 16-24 into employment through the apprenticeship programme.

The Skills Funding Agency will provide AGE 16-24 to eligible employers, in respect of qualifying apprentices, with an individual value of £1500.

AGE 16-24 is for emplyers with less than 50 employees, who are new to apprenticeships or haven't enrolled a new recruit or existing employee onto an Apprenticeship programme in the previous 12 months. Employers can be paid up to a total of 5 grants.

The grant is currently being reviewed with new procedures available after April 2016. for more information please go to 'Apprenticeship Grant for Employers' on the Gov Website.

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business is an investment to help entrepreneurs create jobs and economic opportunity by providing greater access to education, captial and business support services. 10,000 Small Businesses is funded by Goldman Sachs and the Goldman Sachs Foundation.

For further information please go to the Goldman Sachs UK website.

Talk to Reg is a one-stop route guide to experts who will help your business to grow and prosper.

From starting up a new business to helping existing businesses develop Talk to Reg is here to help. It provides contacts into government services where expert help is available in buisness advice, trading standards, environmental health and more.

For more information please go to Talk to Reg's website.

As part of the Government's commitment to provide a high level of transparency for HS2 business opportunities, the HS2 Supply Chain Management Team have recently published a Contract Opportunities Table on the Business Section of their website

Please be aware that there is and will be a vast range of products and services reqired!

This table gives an indicative view of contracts being procured directly by HS2 Ltd, as well as their status. Here you will be able to find contact details for suppliers who have been invited to tender for, or have been awarded contracts with HS2 Ltd. Business seek opportunities to become part of the HS2 supply chain will be able to engage early with HS2's direct contractors and prepare for the likely indirect opportunities each contract will provide. Please take a moment to familiarise yourselves with the table and identify business opportunities of interest to your organisation.

This page will be updated regularly and we therefore encourage you to revisit it frequently.

If you have any questions, please contact the Supply Chain Management Team at SCC@hs2.org.uk

What is the Enterprise for Success programme?

The Enterprise for Success programme, run by the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP), offers help and advice to you if you are starting a new business, part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

The flexible, free programme offers:

• One-to-one support from qualified advisors
• Business plan preparation and cash flow forecasts
• Specialist training courses covering marketing, finance, tax, business planning, e-commerce and PR
• Referral to support organisations and networks
• Support for businesses in their first year of trading

Who can apply for the scheme?

The support is available to those thinking of starting a business, or companies within their first year of trading (geographical restrictions may apply).

How can I apply?

To find out how we can help you, contact us on 0800 0323488, or register your interest at www.gbslepgrowthhub.co.uk or visit the Blue Orchid website www.enterpriseforsuccess.co.uk   For Events visit   https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/enterprise-for-success-12429069697 or https://www.gbslepgrowthhub.co.uk/events

See us on twitter at

https://twitter.com/Ent4Success

Starting a business is one of the most exciting and challenging things you can do. But, with so much to think about, many people just don’t know where to start. Informi have put together a step by step action plan to help you get your business up and running in 20 days, along with a free ebook to refer to along the way.

For more information, visit the Informi website here