Business Support

Funding & Advice

There are a number of organisations who are readily available to help your business grow:

Business Link provide a comprehensive website packed with information to help people develop their business ideas and grow. They also offer telephone support 0845 600 9 006.

The Hive@Mansfield Business Start-up Proof-of-Concept Programme helps you access the commercial viability of your business idea and helps turn it into a profitable reality.  The programme are looking for people with brilliant new business ideas who live or work in the Districts of Ashfield, Bassetlaw, Chesterfield or Mansfield.  They run 3 programmes per year starting January, April and September.  To find out more, contact Michael Huxley on 01623 600829.

Chesterfield Innovation Support Programme (Chesterfield Borough Council) is a 3 year ERDF funded project which aims to increase the level of specialist support available to businesses in the CBC area.  The project has been set up to offer a variety of funded support which will include -

For further information on the Innovation Support Programme please contact:

Paul Stuart
Innovation Support Project Manager
07805764251
paul.stuart@chesterfield.gov.uk

The Prince's Trust Enterprise Programme supports unemployed young people aged 18-30 to work out if their business ideas are viable and whether self-employmnet is right for them.  Depending on the outcome of this process, the programme can then offer mentoring support and for those that really need it, financial support to start a business or mentoring support to secure goals in employment, education or training.  For further information call 0800 842842 or visit the website.

Regional Growth Fund (RGF) is a £2.6bn fund operating across England from 2011 to 2016.  It supports projects and programmes that lever private sector investment to create economic growth and sustainable employment.  It aims particularly to help those areas and communities which were dependent on the public sector to make the transition to sustainable private sector-led growth and prosperity.  Round 4 of the RGF has been opened for applicants.  The fund has an allocation of £350 million and is looking for projects that match the public funding with private money, with a minimum grant threshold of £1m.  The deadline for submissions is noon on 20th March 2013.  Visit the website for further information.

Growing Places Fund The Growing Places Fund is managed by the Local Economic Partnerships.  Those covering Chesterfield are Sheffield City Region and D2N2.  Potential applicants are able to apply to either fund.  Each fund has its own criteria, deadlines and application process.  Note: both funds are currently closed to new applications.

Sheffield City Region LEP - Growing Places Fund The money has been allocated to the LEP as part of the national Growing Places Fund to boost the development of local infrastructure projects such as new transport links, flood alleviation works and the improvement of existing housing.

D2N2 - Growing Places Fund Using £17.8m funding from Government, the D2N2 Growing Places Fund aims to kick start 'stalled' job creating developments through rapid investments in local infrastructure and tackling site constraints.  RGF offers potential applicants a minimum grant investment of £1m.  The third round of applications to the Fund closed in June 2012.
D2N2 has collabrated with East Midlands Business Ltd to develop and submit a D2N2 branded programme bid to Round 3 of the RGF called 'Unlocking Investment for Growth'.  Subject to succesfully completing due diligence, 'Unlocking Investment for Growth' will establish a grant fund, aimed at small and medium sized enterprises within D2N2's areas of economic focus who require co-investment of capital funding for projects that will rapidly create jobs and stimulate economic growth but who are unable to directly access the main RGF due to the minimum threshold of £1million for bids. 

Chamber of Commerce & Local Networks
The British Chambers of Commerce form a network of 100 quality-accredited Chambers throughout the UK. Becoming a member of a Chamber gives a business access to services such as training, information, resources, networking and savings on essential overheads.

Derbyshire Enterprise Agency Ltd (DEA) is a not-for-profit company that offers business advice and support services to start-up and existing business in Chesterfield and Derbyshire. Business Link no longer offers face to face advice but DEA will provide a free half hour meeting with their business advisor (but charge for the service after initial meeting). Contact Paul Stuart on 01246 207207 to arrange an appointment or visit the website.  

Derbyshire Job Centre Plus can help with recruitment or information about local labour availability, wage rates, employment subsidies or training. A package of assistance can be tailor-made to meet your needs. This may include; pre-employment courses to prepare people for specific entry criteria; Work Trials which allow job seekers and the business to test out a job for a couple of weeks before making a commitment; and help for applicants with tools, clothes etc. In addition if you are registered unemployed and have been in receipt of Job Seekers Allowance for more than 6 months, then Job Centre Plus can advise you about New Enterprise Allowance which offers financial assistance to help you start a business. Contact Derbyshire Jobcentre Plus on 0845 604 3719.

Disability Dynamics provide one-to-one support for people with disabilities who wish to start their own business or become self employed. For further information please call 01329 841814 or visit the website.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC's) UK wide network of specially trained Business Education and Support Teams can help you understand your tax responsibilities, and give you the confidence to get it right, first time. HMRC run workshops on a variety of subjects at locations throughout the country. The services are free of charge and are designed for everyone in business, especially new businesses or new employers. For further information please call 0845 603 2691 or visit the website

Loundsley Green Enterprise Coaching Project  can provide support to start-ups for people living in or close to Loundsley Green. For further information please call Paul Davies 07753 605272 

Source Derbyshire  - The main objective of the website is to advertise potential new contracts that businesses can bid for and to make it easier for businesses to find out about new sources of potential revenue. As well as new contract opportunities, you will also find a list of recurring contracts which you may also be able to bid for in the future. 

Trusted Trader Scheme (Derbyshire County Council) can help individuals find honest and reliable traders who commit to doing a good job for a fair price. It includes plumbers, builders, roofers, decorators, joiners, electricians, gardeners, retailers and many more. Businesses can use the Trusted Trader website to find out more about the benefits of being a Derbyshire Trusted Trader and learn how to sign up.

Homes and Communities Agency - Get Britain Building programme is part of the Government's Housing Strategy for England and aims to unlock locally-backed stalled sites with planning permission and deliver up to 16,000 new homes.  A recoverable investment, the programme is intended to address difficulties in accessing development finance faced by some housebuilders, and to help bring forward marginal sites by sharing risk.  Visit the website for further information.

Homes and Communities Agency - Custom Build In Laying the foundations - a housing strategy for England, funding available to provide short-term project finance to hep unlock group custom build - or self-build-schemes.  The aim of the fund is two-fold:
To stimulate the growth of the Custome Build Homes market by enabling more multi-unit custom build home projects and attract more commercial lenders and investors to this market, thereby increasing the number of custom built homes developed annually over the next decade.
To focus exclusively on multi-unit 'group' projects with the objective of bringing forward sufficient numbers of successful schemes to demonstrate to commercial funders that the lending model is a viable and sustainable business which can be taken  forward by industry, without public funding support, when the fund closes on 31 March 2015.  Visit the website for further information.

Voluntary & Community Group Funding
For information on grants available for Voluntary and Community Groups please contact LINKS: The Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire Council for Voluntary Service and Action Ltd.  The contact details are:
Links
Blenheim Court
17 Newbold Road
Chesterfield
S41 7PG
01246 274844
www.linkscvs.org.uk

GRANTnet is the UK's leading free-to-us funding database, it is a user-friendly to use service which has been devised to assist community and voluntary groups, sports and other clubs, schools, social enterprises and small businesses in identifying funding opportunities for specific projects.