Start a business
If you are thinking of starting your own business, the following information and links should help.
Where do I start?
When you start working for yourself, you need to tell HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). To register all you need to do is visit http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/ or call the Newly Self- Employed Helpline on 0845 915 4515 and give them details about you and your business.
If you're starting a limited company, you need to register with Companies House first (http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/). Companies House will inform HMRC who will then send you an introductory pack. Further information can be found in the HM Revenue and Customs' 
Thinking of working for yourself guide [171kb].
The following can help you to start a business: |
Who: B Supplied What they do: Retail, business and franchising support. What they offer: Business growth and development, access to finance, developing business skills. Website: www.bsupplied.co.uk Contact: Dave Crompton, tel: 0191 5166369 |
Who: Business and Enterprise Group What they offer: Practical and hands-on advice and funding support to help SME's grow as well as helping them improve their chances of winning work/tenders. Website: www.be-group.co.uk / www.bizgenerator.co.uk Contact: 0191 426 6100 |
Who: Business Innovation Centre (BIC) (North East SME Innovation Programme) What they do: Support SME's in NE to achieve significant step changes in their performance through introduction of innovative strategies such as; processes, products, people, finance and markets. What they offer: Assist companies through the innovation processes. Website: www.ne-bic.co.uk Contact: Tel: 0191 516 6021, email: innovation@ne-bic.co.uk |
Who: Enterprise made Simple What they do: Support new and existing business What they offer: Funding start up, business planning for new start-ups, financial forecasting, marketing and promotional strategies, PR opportunities, training and development in all business aspects Website: enterprisemadesimple.co.uk Contact: Queens Court Business Centre, Newport Road, Middlesbrough TS1 5EH. Tel: 01642 351776 email: info@enterprisemadesimple.co.uk |
Who: 5 Lamps What they do: Enterprise Coaching What they offer: Support throughout your enterprise journey from developing a business idea to giving a loan to support your business Website: fivelamps.org.uk Contact: Eldon Street, Thornaby, TS17 7DJ. Tel: 01642 608316 email: info@fivelamps.org.uk |
Who: Inbiz What they do: Enterprise Allowance What they offer: Grants and support for new business start-ups in partnership with Job Centre Plus |
Who: Enterprise Nation What they do: Fund 101 What they offer: New start-ups can apply for a grant of £50-£500 for your business idea to buy equipment etc Website: enterprisenation.com Contact: Apply online or email: info@enterprisenation.com |
Who: Corner Emporium What they do: Retail Test Trading What they offer: Up to 6 months rent free retail space for creative businesses. Website: Middlesbrough.gov.uk/business Contact: Julie Marsden Tel: 01642 729567 |
Who: Creative Bloom What they do: Signposting website for Creative Businesses What they offer: info of who, what, where creative's can find info on opportunities available to them and their business Website: Middlesbroughbusinessforum.co.uk/funding/crowd-funding Contact: Julie Marsden, tel: 01642 729567 |
Who: Federation of Small Businesses What they do: The UK's largest campaigning pressure group promoting and protecting the interests of the self-employed and owners of small firms. What they offer: Offer a member service and benefits include legal and tax protection, business benefits and services and business documentation. Website: www.fsb.org.uk Local contact: Tel:01207 506138, email: simon.hanson@fsb.org.uk |
Who: 'Generate' - Expanding your potential What they do: Get businesses moving forward with confidence. What they offer: Deliver practical, impact-driven business improvement coaching/consultancy to increase the success level of businesses in the North East. As business people it's their purpose and passion. Website: www.generateventuresnorthllp.com Contact: 1 St James' Gate, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE99 1TQ. Tel: 0870 0341 555, email: coach@generateventuresnorthllp.com |
Who: Growth Acccelerator What they do: Personalised support for high growth business. What they offer: Business growth and development, access to finance, developing leadership/management skills. Website: www.growthaccelerator.com Contact: Denise Franks, tel: 07738 355734 |
Who: Job Centre Plus What they do: Response to redundancy What they offer: employers and employees to gain advice to find a new job and improve skills Website: direct.gov.uk/jobsearch Contact: your local Job Centre Plus branch |
Who: Hesler Marketing What they do: Business start-up package What they offer: help start-ups with marketing such as logo, letterhead design, website and a years worth of book keeping. Prices from £900 Contact: Lisa Hesler, tel: 07540 596208 email: lisa@heslermarketing.co.uk |
Who: HMRC What they do: Advice and guidance on tax issues relating to business. What they offer: Online and telephone support, self help guides, tax and vat guidance, registering a business. Website: www.hmrc.gov.uk Contact: check website for specific helplines. |
Who: MAS Works/Groundwork North East What they do: Offering a 7 month programme to manufacturing organisations to improve environmental management. What they offer: As above Website: www.mymas.org Contact: Tel: 07554 334332, email; lynn.thompson@mymas.org |
Who: Mentorsme What they do: Connect businesses to one another who can offer mentoring to SME's. What they offer: Facilitate businesses on finding a mentor and asking successful businesses if they would like to become a mentor. Website: www.mentorsme.co.uk Contact: Email: media@betterbusinessfinance.co.uk |
Who: Narec What they do: Accelerate the deployment of offshore renewable energy technologies. What they offer: Support to companies to move into the Off Shore Wind market. Website: www.narec.co.uk Contact: Stephen Robertson (Commercial Manager), tel: 01670 543 053, email: stephen.robertson@narec.co.uk |
Who: Northern Pinetree Trust What they do: promote the relief of disabled and disadvantaged communities and their integration into society through the exploration and establishment of micro business. What they offer: A full programme of business and enterprise support from 1:1 support and workshops to training and finance Website: northernpinetreetrust.co.uk Contact: Northern Pinetree Trust Pinetree Centre, Durham Road, Birtley Tel: 0191 4928215 or 01914928219 email: enquiries@pinetree-centre.co.uk |
Who: Manufacturing Advisory Service What they do: Help manufacturers streamline processes, reduce waste, become more energy efficient and generally improve and grow business. What they offer: 5 services; free helpdesk and research service, manufacturing review (free to SME's), events and networking, subsidised consultancy support for SME's, signposting and referrals. Website: www.mymas.org Local contact: Jim Barr, tel: 0845 658 9600, email: jim.barr@mymas.org (based in Darlington) |
Who: Ready for Business What they do: been granted RGF funding to create 540 businesses and 900 new jobs in the North East. What they offer: offers new start-up businesses the best preparation for success via expert training, support and preparation for external funding Website: startupedge.co.uk Contact: TEDCO 0191 428 3300 or email; Hayley.Williams@nationalenterprisenetwork.org |
Who: NEPIC What they do: BASME - Business Acceleration for SME's. What they offer: Free mentoring and support to SME's who are already involved in the process sector supply chain or would like to become a supplier. Website: nepic.co.uk Contact: Tel: 01642 442560 email: felix.o'hare@nepic.co.uk |
Who: Teesside Manufacturing Centre What they do: Manufacturing support to SME's. What they offer: Consultancy expertise and experience. Any size clients covering forensic science, clean manufacturing, materials testing, industrial design, data security, enterprise resource planning implementation, health practice accreditation, process visualisation, executive mentoring, market development and software. Website: www.tees.ac.uk/sections/business/consultancy.cfm Contact: Suhail Aslam (Director), Tel: 01642 384314, email: s.aslam@tees.ac.uk |
Who: Teesside University What they do: Events & training What they offer: Various events and networking opportunities in partnership with other organisations for businesses. Website: www.tees.ac.uk/events, www.Middlesbroughbusinessforum.co.uk Contact: contact via event information online |
Who: Tees Valley Unlimited What they do: Inward investment /business support. What they offer: Support and assistance to Teesside based companies (B2B). Website: www.teesvalleyunlimited.gov.uk Contact: Tel: 01642 524400 |
Who: UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) What they do: Work with UK-based businesses to ensure their success in international markets, and encourage the best overseas companies to look to the UK as their global partner of choice. What they offer: Aims and objectives include; (1) delivering measurable improvement in the business performance of UKTI's international trade customers, with an emphasis on innovative and R&D active firms, (2) increase the contribution of foreign direct investment to knowledge intensive economic activity in the UK, including R&D, (3) delivering a measurable improvement in the reputation of the UK in leading overseas markets as the international business partner of choice. Website: www.ukti.gov.uk Contact: Spectrum 6, Spectrum Business Park, Seaham, SR7 7TT. Tel: 0845 0505054, email: enquiries@ukti.rito.co.uk (local contacts available) |
