Growing and Running your Business
A range of support is available to help existing businesses to
flourish and grow. This page offers information about how we
can help your business, and links to other organisations that may
be of benefit. In addition, many of the services on our
start-up page are also
available to existing small businesses.
On this page:
Incentive to Grow Grants
Incentive to grow grants are available to fund 50% of a new
project (up to a maximum of £1,000) that will help your
business grow. Click here
for more details
If you have any questions about the grants, please contact
Teresa Smith on 023 80688192 or email teresa.smith@eastleigh.gov.uk
Business Grants from SEEDA
The South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) offer two
grants to small and medium sized businesses in the South East
region. One of these is for research & development of new
products and processes and the other is to enable growth into
national rather than local markets. For details of these
grants visit the
SEEDA website.
Business Link
Need help in starting-up, growing,
managing your business or becoming more competitive?
Business Link
specialise in helping businesses across Hampshire and the Isle of
Wight to establish, develop and grow. Business Link Wessex is your
route to a comprehensive range of objective and impartial business
information and advice.
Call: 08454 58 85
58 or contact
Business
Link Wessex through their website to send an e-mail or
request a call back
Business Rates (National Non-Domestic Rates)
Business Rates are payable on most
non-domestic properties. If your business has its own
premises then you will probably have to pay Business Rates (unless
these are included in your rent).
The government has a
website which explains everything you need to know about
Business Rates, how they are calculated and what reliefs are
available.
Click on the logo below to visit the
MyBusinessRates website
Your local Council collects Business
Rates on behalf of the government.
VAT
Once your business' turnover reaches
£61,000 per annum you need to register for VAT. For some
smaller businesses there can be advantages to voluntary
registration below this threshold. The following two
documents from HM Revenues & Customs give some guidance on VAT
matters.
The VAT Guide
The Ins and Outs of VAT
HM Revenues and Customs have a number
of different VAT payment schemes to suit different types of
businesses -
more details are available on
the Business Link website, which also has a
guide to when and how to register for VAT
eHampshire 
(formerly Hampshire Broadband)
The Hampshire Broadband Project has
moved on to become eHampshire, the
body responsible for ‘driving forward the use of ICT and high speed
communications in Hampshire’.
Thanks to the contribution of its
members, the Hampshire Broadband Project has been able to help over
400 businesses take up broadband, deliver over 300 advice sessions
and provide support and advice to individuals and community groups
across the county.
The new eHampshire Partnership will
aim to build on this success by encouraging businesses and
communities to exploit the benefits of high speed
communications.
The programme of activity includes the
provision of grants for businesses connecting for the first time to
broadband, free advice sessions, workshops, events, a free helpline
(0845 606 6118), learning opportunities, and more.
eHampshire can be contacted
by
|
Post
|
eHampshire
FREEPOST NAT22518
Winchester
SO22 4BR
|
|
Telephone
|
0845 606 6118
|
|
E-Mail
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info@ehampshire.org
|
CarbonFREE
Are you concerned about your carbon
footprint?
Do you want to offset your carbon emissions but don't
know how?
The Carbon Fund for Reducing Emissions in Eastleigh (CarbonFREE)
has been set up by Eastleigh Borough Council to help local people,
organisations and businesses offset their emissions. It
currently costs £10 to offset one tonne of carbon dioxide -
the money from the fund is then used to help community buildings
and local households to install energy saving technologies thus
reducing overall emissions in Eastleigh.
For more information about the fund and how to join, visit the CarbonFREE pages on this
website or contact our Sustainability team on 023 8068 8085 or
email sustainability@eastleigh.gov.uk.
Sustainable Business Network
The Hampshire & Isle of Wight Sustainable Business Network
is aimed specifically at businesses who are committed to
sustainability and would like to access information and advice on
what to do next, as well as those who are new to this agenda and
need help with where to start. Regular member meetings are
held in Winchester.
The Sustainable Business Network will put you in contact with
other businesses striving to tackle similar issues to yourselves,
enabling you to discuss and share information on how to meet the
challenges of becoming a sustainable business. There will
also be access to local support providers who can help you overcome
barriers and deliver improved environmental
performance.
The Sustainable Business Network can deliver the support that
you want to improve environmental performance and reduce costs in
your business. For example specific projects (i.e. BS8555, a phased
approach to EMS) or focus groups to identify solutions to
particular issues (i.e. getting Management buy-in) will be
initiated as required by you. Please contact us with your
suggestions.
To become part of the Network or find out more contact the
Sustainable Business Partnership at:
Hampshire
& Isle of Wight Sustainable Business Partnership
Economic Development Office,
The Castle,
WINCHESTER,
SO23 8UJ
Southampton Enterprise Hub
Southampton
Enterprise Hub aims to provide a networking forum for
local entrepreneurs, as well as improved access to research,
technology, innovation, business support, flexible workspace &
early stage finance.
Southampton Enterprise Hub
Chilworth
Business Incubator
Chilworth Science Park
Southampton
Hampshire SO16 7NP
Tel : +44(0) 238076 3794
Fax: +44(0) 238076 3701
Wired Wessex
Wired Wessex aims to help micro
businesses in the Wessex region by providing individual guidance
and support whether starting or growing your business.
Wired Wessex remains the 'friendly' network with peer to peer
sharing of experiences by bringing people and businesses together
in a supportive and welcoming atmosphere.
Wired Wessex provides a forum for companies to match their skills,
products and services thus providing its members with new business
opportunities which in turn helping each other to flourish and
grow.
Find out more about Wired Wessex
from their
website or
contact them directly on 01962 827029 or email
info@wiredwessex.com
Federation of Small Businesses
The FSB is
the largest campaigning pressure group promoting and protecting the
interests of the self-employed and owners of small firms. Formed in
1974, it now has over 200,000+ members across 33 regions and 230
branches. On the member benefits side, it offers assistance and
support 24 hours a day, while its lobbying arm - led by the
Westminster Press and Parliamentary office - applies pressure on
MPs, Government and Whitehall, lobbies politicians in their
constituencies and puts the FSB viewpoint over to the media.
For more information about member benefits and how to contact
your local branch, visit the FSB website
Southampton and Fareham Chamber of Commerce
The Southampton and Fareham Chamber
of Commerce is an independent organisation that represents over
4100 businesses throughout its region. From Business Builders
who join the Chamber for direct business results and referrals, to
those who recognise the value of joining with others to affect
public policy. Their services include: Training; Networking
Events; Information and Advice; Representation & Lobbying and
International Trade.
Tel 023 8022 3541
Fax 023 8022 7426.
Link2exports
Link2exports
has been designed in partnership with the British Chambers of
Commerce to provide specific information on countries worldwide for
companies looking to export their products and services and
increase the awareness of trade, investment and
development opportunities.
European Information Centre
Euro Info
Centres (EICs) provide local access to a range of
specialist information and advisory services to help companies
develop their business in Europe.
There are 24 UK EICs plus 300
throughout Europe.
The Southern area EIC is based in
Southampton:
Richard Hall, Manager
Southern Area Euro Info
Centre
Northguild
Civic Centre
Southampton
SO14 7LW
Tel: 023 8083 2866
Fax: 023 8023 1714
Companies House
Companies House is the organisation responsible for
incorporating and dissolving limited companies, for storing company
information as required by the Companies Act 1985, and for making
that information available to the public. Your accountant or
legal advisor should be able to advise you about the advantages and
disadvantages of incorporating your business. The Companies
House website gives you information about the
processes involved in registering your business, and also allows to
you check the details of companies already registered.
Manufacturing Advisory Service
The DTI Manufacturing Advisory Service in the South East (MAS
South East) provides straightforward and practical advice and
support to improve and encourage manufacturing competitiveness in
today’s global market. MAS South East is funded by SEEDA ,
delivered by EEF South and
supported by the Business Link Network. MAS South East
aims to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of manufacturers
in the region to create sustainable improvements.
Visit the MAS South East
website to find out more.
Business Continuity Management
Business Continuity has been developed over many years using
many names and descriptions, for example disaster recovery or
contingency planning.
In our everyday life we carry out the same task many times a
day. Have we enough fuel in the vehicle, bread in the larder, meat
in the freezer? What happens if our on line groceries don't arrive,
what if I can't get to the bank today? What would I do if the
motorway was blocked? Or there was no fuel, bread, ink, water, or
even a place to live or work from flooding or fire?
In the work place these issues may not be high on a list of
priorities as it may be someone else's concern, no ink, no work, go
home. However if it's your company, your responsibility, your
employment ……..
Then IT'S YOUR RISK
Business Continuity Management provides a framework to help
businesses to evaluate risk to their business and be prepared to
identify when things could go wrong and reduce or prevent them from
affecting you.
Jobcentre Plus
Jobcentre
Plus is a free service, specifically designed to
make your recruitment process run smoothly, whatever the scale.
Whether you have vacancies in Great Britain or overseas,
temporary or permanent, full or part time, Jobcentre Plus can help
advise you on your recruitment needs. Your vacancy can be
advertised in Jobcentres, on the internet and through the Jobcentre
Plus call centre. They can offer specialist help and advice
on recruitment and employment issues and can even sort through
applicants so that you only see the best ones.
To find out exactly how Jobcentre Plus can help you, visit
the Jobcentre Plus website.
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Page Last Updated: 10/7/2008
Eastleigh Borough Council
legal disclaimer
Website Comments: webmaster@eastleigh.gov.uk
Eastleigh Borough Council, Civic Offices, Leigh Road, Eastleigh, SO50 9YN
Telephone: 023 8068 8068, Fax: 023 8064 3952, Text: 07797 877001
Email:
direct@eastleigh.gov.uk