Acas aims to improve organisations and working life through better relations. They provide up to date information, independent advice, high quality training and work with employers and employees to solve problems and improve performance.

For more information contact Acas on 08457 474747 or go to Acas

Arts Council England is the national development agency for the arts in England, distributing public money from the Government and the National Lottery.

For further information please go to the Arts Council's website.

The Black Country Reinvestment Society (BCRS) provides loans to small businesses that have workable business plans but can't get all the finance they need from banks.

The BCRS can support your business growth and development by making loans up to £50,000. They lend to new and existing businesses operating within the Black Country and Southern Staffordshire .

 For further information please go to BCRS

General advice and approval on building control issues such as change of use, new build or alterations and extensions.

For further information please go to Building Control

Business Enterprise Support is successfully working with the local community providing high quality customer driven advice, guidance, support and training, not only to the unemployed and budding entrepreneurs, but more recently to the micro and small business community in conjunction with Business Link Staffordshire. For further information and details on any of the programmes the Agency operates in Cannock please telephone 01283 537151, or go to Business Enterprise Support and help yourself to get ahead with the backing of an organisation that cares.

Business in the Community (BITC) is a unique movement of more than 850 member companies. Its purpose is to inspire, challenge, engage and support business in continually improving its impact in the community. environment, marketplace and workplace.

For further information please go to Business in the Community

The Business Innovation Centre Staffordshire (BIC) offers advice and support on all aspects of innovation, including support for new product ideas, hosting various workshops and events and providing incubation and other business accommodation.

For further information please go to Business Innovation Centre

Business Rates, or Non-Domestic Rates as they are sometimes known, are a tax payable in respect of all occupied and some unoccupied business premises. Business Rates are payable to the Council who collect them on behalf of the Government.

For further information please go to Business Rates

For advice on alcohol, entertainment, gambling and other consents and permits.

For further information please go to Licensing

The CAB offers expert advice on a wide range of topics, from social policy issues (e.g. housing , healthcare etc) to family and personal issues and debt advice.

For further information please go to CAB

As a member of the Chase Chamber of Commerce and Industry (part of the Birmingham Chamber Group) you will receive vital business support at a local level, with the backing of a national organisation that has been helping the UK business community for over 100 years. You will be informed about local issues and legislation that could affect your business and have access to a free 24 hour legal advice helpline. Exclusive services that will save you money, an excellent export team, event programmes and quality training are just a few of the benefits on offer to Chamber members. Most importantly, we will fight for your interests and lobby Government on your behalf. Join us and you'll be in good company. Members come from a wide range of business sectors including manufacturing, engineering, retail, leisure and professional. Whatever the size of your business, we look forward to hearing from you. Contact us on 0845 071 0191 or email c.plant@chase-chamber.com

For further information please go to Chase Chamber

 Chase Creative Hub is not just a webiste. It's a group of like-minded individuals and businesses that live or work within the creative sector in the Cannock Chase district. Dancers, artists, designers, photographers and more, can all become part of the 'Hub'.

The ultimate objective is to PROMOTE, CONNECT and DEVELOP the local creative sector through support, marketing and advocacy - as well as celebrate all things creative!

For further information please go to the Chase Creative website

Debt Advice Foundation is a registered national debt advice and education charity offering free, confidential support and advice to anyone worried about loans, credit and debt. Because we're a debt charity, you can be sure that the advice we provide is impartial and based solely on what is best for you.

If you have a debt problem, Debt Advice Foundation can help you understand which options are available to you and will recommend the debt solution that is right for your situation. Our aim is to help you regain control of your finances by:-

• Reducing monthly repayments to an realistic and affordable level.
• Stopping creditors taking enforcement action against you.
• Protecting important assets such as your home.

If you are struggling to keep up with credit card, loan or debt consolidation repayments, have arrears or are facing legal action from lenders as a result of being unable to repay your unsecured or secured debts, our debt helpline advisors are standing by waiting to help.

The Debt Advice Foundation advise on the full range of debt solutions including Bankruptcy, Debt Relief Orders, Free Debt Management Plans, IVAs, Trust Deeds, LILAs, Debt Arrangement Scheme, Administration Orders and Debt Consolidation.

If you require advice about debt or you need to talk to someone in confidence about your options, there's no need to wait or book an appointment, our free debt advisory service is open Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm and Saturday 9am to 5pm on 0800 043 40 50.

For further information please go to Debt Advice Foundation

Investigation and advice in respect of air pollution, noise control, public health, pest control, waste management and contaminated land etc.

For further information please go to Environmental Health

The Council is responsible for enforcing food hygiene legislation in all food premises within the Cannock Chase District, including shops, restaurants, care homes, schools and hospitals.

For further information please go to Food Hygiene

The Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) is the department for economic growth. The department invests in skills and education to promote trade, boost innovation and help people to start and grow a business. BIS also protects consumers and reduces the impact of regulation.

For further information please go to BIS

Support Staffordshire offers advice, support and signposting in the local volunteer sector, covering a wide range of activities and organisations.

For further information please go to Support Staffordshire

For support, advice and inspitration for growing your business.

For further information please go to Great Business 

The Health and Safety Executive enforces the Health and Safety at Work Act and associated legislation in a wide range of activities (e.g. factories, hospitals, educational activities, chemical works, railways, quarries, agriculture, utilities, local authorities etc). The HSE also produces a wide range of guidance to help employers understand and comply with their duties.

For further information please go to HSE

The Business Support Team runs an ongoing programme of free of charge workshops covering tax, National Insurance and associated topics. These are updated as legislation demands and new subjects added as they arise.

For further information please go to HMRC

The company promotes Staffordshire as a business location and provides a service to business including a wide range of information, site visits, assistance with planning applications, help with training, recruitment and grant advice.

For further information please go to Make it Stoke and Staffs.

Advice and assistance with the planning application process, enforcement issues and monitoring of developments.

For further information please go to Development Control

For more information on Planning Policy please go to Planning Policy

Chek local food business ratings and information here 

The Small Traders Waste Disposal Scheme is a new initiative designed to allow small traders to dispose of their waste more easily and efficiently. By providing facilities at existing Community Recycling (CRC) with a basic pricing structure, trade waste disposal couldn't be easier. The scheme is currently running at the Leek, Cannock and Stafford CRCs.

For a full pricing list, and details of the items that can and can not be accepted, please go to Small Traders Waste Disposal Scheme

When SBEN was founded in 1992 our programme was a mixture of seminars and training, and reflected concerns with the new environmental legislation of the time, both domestic and European, and the issues of compliance that this had raised. Whilst the pace of legislation has hardly let-up, our programme now reflects the even broader concerns of the business community to the environment, by showing examples of best practice and training through enviro-visits, seminars, training and consultancy. A programme of events is available - just call the helpline on 01785 277379 for further details and membership initiatives.

For further information please go to SBEN

The Staffordshire/Stoke-on-Trent Conference Bureau is a private/public sector partnership funded by 5 local authorities in Staffordshire. If you have a conference facility, we can provide help and advice on promoting your venue, providing contacts in the industry and pointing you in the right direction, whatever the query.

For further information please go to Conference Staffordshire

This is the only government lower-value contract opportunity portal, created to provide small businesses with visibility of public sector contract opportunities typically below £100,000.

For further information please go to Gov.Uk/Contracts-Finder

Trading Standards Officers visit premises to check on fair trading issues, trade descriptions, counterfeiting, weights and measures and under age sales of products like alcohol, tobacco, petrol, DVD's and knives.

For further information please go to Trading Standards - Staffordshire

UK Trade & Investment provide business opportunities, expert trade advice and support to UK-based companies wishing to grow their business overseas.

For further information please go to UKTI

Founded in 2012, Entrepreneur Handbook (EH) started life as a resource list for entrepreneurs, beyond this it quickly grew into a fully fledged media platform for entrepreneurs. Now as one of the leading online publications for UK entrepreneurs, EH’s mission is to provide the best possible content, resources and guides for entrepreneurs and small businesses.

To visit the Entrepreneur Handbook website please click the following link.