Business support and advice
Investment services
In order to save businesses time and money, South Ribble Borough Council offers a dedicated service, free of charge. The Business and Visitor Economy Team will act as a single point of contact, offering a range of beneficial information for our businesses and new investors.
Part of Community Works, the Business and Visitor Economy Team can offer:
• Commercial sites and premises in South Ribble, Preston and Chorley or throughout Lancashire
• Local information about suppliers, services, the economy and regulatory services
• Help to find sources of funding
• Links to partner organisations for all local business support needs
For further information on any of the services mentioned, please contact the Business and Visitor Economy Team on (01772) 625567
South Ribble "Big Do" - We are holding a Big Do in South Ribble on 23rd May 2013. Big Do is little idea to test a new type of networking event. We want all types of organisations in South Ribble to get together, make new contacts and build relationships. We’ll have great guest speakers, interactive workshops, a promotional marketplace, live entertainment and Big Do TV. The first ‘South Ribble Awards’ will be presented on the night recognising the brilliant work being done by local people and organisations. We’ll even throw in some drinks and nibbles. What’s more the whole event is free. Please come along and join us – you can book your place at: southribblebigdo.eventbrite.co.uk
FREE Business Events - Look out for details of Central Lancashire Business Support & Networking Events. Please see the Central Lancashire Business Events website for details, to book on an event, or to let us know what types of event you would find useful for your business.
Are you interested in starting your own business? Advice is available from the Council to help you find premises, sources of loan funding, local information and details of regulations. Please call 01772 625567 or email econdevt@southribble.gov.uk for details. From May 2012 Start Up Loans (a government backed project) are available, lending up to £2,500 to young people wanting to start a business. Please see the Start Up Loans website for details.
The Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) makes grants available to help improve the rural economy and to create new job opportunities in rural areas. If you are a farmer or a forester looking to get more out of the products you create, a small rural company wishing to expand, or someone with a new business idea wishing to set up in a rural area – then funding might be available to help you realise your ambitions. Grants from £4,000 and upwards are available subject to an application process. Please see the Lancashire RDPE webpages for details.
Civvy Street - If you are serving or have served in the UK Armed Forces or are a dependant of someone who is serving or has served, Civvy Street service is available to help you find employment or start your own business.
Waitrose Leyland Regional Distribution Centre - The new Leyland Waitrose Regional Distribution Centre is due to open during Summer 2013. Recruitment for all the jobs is taking place and all the vacancies will be advertised on the jobs section of the John Lewis Partnership website. Recruitment open days were held on 12th February at the Civic Centre and on 13th February at the Regional Distribution Centre. Please see the flyer download for details.
UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) works 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. Learn how UKTI can help your businesses develop and expand into new markets. Please see their FAQs or contact them on +44 (0)20 7215 5000 for details.
Manufacturing Advisory Service - MAS offers a range of events to help you, streamline your processes, reduce waste, become more energy efficient and generally improve your business. Please see www.mas-nw.co.uk/events for details.
Creative Lancashire - provided by Lancashire County Developments Limited, Creative Lancashire supports digital and creative businesses with a range of sector-specific specialist business development and investment advice.
10,000 Small Businesses programme - Would you benefit from practical and funded support from experts who have extensive experience of working with, and understanding the specific needs of ambitious businesses and comercially scalable social enterprises? If so, Winning Pitch, in partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University Business School, would like to invite you learn more about the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses programme.
New scheme for young entrepreneurs - Entrepreneur and 2008 Apprentice finalist Claire Young has launched TeenBiz, the UK's first not-for-profit business start up scheme for under 18s, in partnership with the Royal Bank of Scotland. TeenBiz aims to encourage young entrepreneurs aged 13-18-years-old to enter the world of business. The scheme is free for students. To apply for the funding, mentor and a start up pack, please visit www.teenbiz.org.uk.
Have your say on business issues. A Local Development Framework is being prepared for Central Lancashire. It covers issues that may be relevant to your business. The document covers issues on employment, retail, skills and infrastructure. Please see the Planning Policy section.
New North West Fund for Businesses - six new funds are now available to businesses in the North West. Please see www.thenorthwestfund.co.uk for details.
Business Growth Fund launch - The Business Growth Fund is a major new £2.5 billion equity investment fund, which is backed by five of the largest banks in the UK. Find out how it could help your business at www.businessgrowthfund.co.uk
A Healthy Business Needs a Healthy Workforce - Health Works invites local businesses to hear how a healthy workplace can bring benefits including lower absenteeism and higher productivity. For details please see www.healthworksonline.co.uk
Accelerating Business Growth Fund - Could the purchase of new machinery, property improvements or building expansions help your business grow in Lancashire? If so, it might be eligible for grant finance.
Lancashire companies can apply for grant finance through the Accelerating Business Growth (ABG) programme, managed by Regenerate Pennine Lancashire. ABG, a Regional Growth Fund programme, is a competitive grant scheme that helps fund business growth projects across Lancashire which commit to significant job creation, additional investment from other sources and aim to have a major impact on the Lancashire economy. What can the grant be used for? Capital investment projects that will stimulate company growth and create jobs. This could include: Machinery acquisition; Property improvement; Building expansions or Infrastructure improvement. How much can I apply for? Minimum grant funding of £20,000 to a maximum of £150,000 dependent upon total project cost and job creation. Typically, a grant is allocated on a 1:4 ratio - 20% of the total project cost. The application and appraisal process is part-subsidised, however all successful applicants will be charged £750 to cover the additional costs of due diligence. To find out more, please see the information sheet, e-mail: info@regeneratepl.co.uk or call freephone 0800 6122029.
Lancashire Innovation Network - Partly funded by the European Regional Development Fund, Lancashire Innovation Network provides free assistance to help you realise the potential of your business through enhanced innovation and effective use of technology. To find out more, please email innovate@regeneratepl.co.uk or call 0800 612 2029 .
Free Business Training - Citrus Training offers free courses on a number of different topics including customer service and business administration. Please download the flyer for more information.
Last updated: 9 May 2013
