Free quality business and enterprise websites selected by our information professionals.Our Business & IP Centre provides a range of advice and support.
Intellectual Property or IP can help you protect your business ideas to prevent others from using them without your permission.
Bookable sessions for one to one Intellectual Property advice are available. For further details see our Business & IP Centre Northamptonshire page.
Information on registering your business as a limited company. Free company name search provided.
Information on starting up and running a business in the UK, including help if you are self employed or a sole trader.
HMRC's section for people who are self employed or are considering becoming self employed.
Collection bringing together leaflets, factsheets and booklets issued by HM Revenue and Customs.
Live webinars are available on set dates and times. They usually last an hour and there is time to ask the presenter questions at the end. Customers will need to complete a simple registration in advance giving their name and email address.
Online learning is an e-course covering tax, National Insurance, business records and expenses.
Recorded webinars are available at any time and can be viewed at your own pace. However, unlike live webinars they are not hosted so there is no opportunity to ask questions.
Short information videos located on HMRC YouTube channel. They aim to provide reassurance and offer quick help.
Includes information on how business start-ups can book a free appointment with a chartered accountant.
Learn the essential numerical skills required for accounting and bookkeeping. This free course explains the fundamental rules of double-entry bookkeeping and how they are used to produce the balance sheet and the profit and loss account.
Information on benefits you may be entitled to if you are self employed.
Information about business plan content, including templates and online tools (Registration may be required)
Help page on writing your business plan. Includes a link to the Prince's Trust business plan template; and also free sample templates available through Bplans.co.uk.
The UK's first 'social merchant bank,' by social entrepreneurs, for social entrepreneurs.
The UK national trade association representing private investors or a group of investors looking for opportunities to invest money in enterprises.
Provides advice and business loans to pre-start and existing business owners throughout the East Midlands.
Provides loans to new and existing businesses that have been refused finance by mainstream lenders.
Subscription grants and policy database which holds details of more than 7,000 funding opportunities.Please note: Northamptonshire Libraries does not subscribe to this website.
We link new ideas and opportunities with expertise, markets and finance through our network of businesses, universities, funders and investors.
Grants for small and medium-sized rural businesses: farmers wishing to diversify; tourism projects; community groups; foresters and other rural enterprises.
Can provide money and support to help you start your own business if you're getting certain benefits. Contact Jobcentre Plus to apply or find out more.
Where to find the money for your own business start-up, and which option is the best for you.
A Government initiative providing funding, mentoring and support to those looking to start or grow a business. Start-up Loans works with Enterprise Loans East Midlands and CWRT to support Start Up Loans applicants in the East Midlands.
Small business advice, business ideas and information on starting a business.
e-business online course.
Eight free digital online courses.
Get the digital skills you need to grow your business.
Six free courses on the fundamentals of social marketing.
Guide to basic online skills and using online services to help with your business.
Fully searchable database of over 9,600 companies located in Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire.
Information on applying to become an approved trader to show customers that you are Trading Standards approved.
Offers advice, mentoring, training and networking to university staff and students; and also local entrepreneurs.
Start up and business support service for Kettering.
UK's largest campaigning pressure group promoting and protecting the interests of the self employed and owners of small firms.
Support for anyone looking to start a new business:
Represents around 1,000 Northamptonshire businesses, who employ over one third of the county's workforce.
Support for disabled people considering self employment.
Working in collaboration with local authority and private sector partners, SEMLEP aims to deliver the strategic infrastructure and skills projects that are essential for economic growth – new jobs and new homes – in this area.
SEMLEP's Growth Hub offers business support to growing businesses:
An energy comparison service to help you find the cheapest utility prices in the energy market.
Information for businesses and individuals that need to know about trading standards legislation.
The CITB supports the skills needs of the British construction sector.
Series of videos helping businesses understand IP and some of the areas around it.
Offer free, short courses to give you an insight into self-employment, help you launch your own business, and give you the help and support you need to grow your business.
Scheme run by the Law Society offering a free consultation on legal requirements relating to your business.
Community businesses trade primarily for the benefit of their community. The Plunkett Foundation provides support and resources for community businesses.
Searchable database listing over 5 million UK limited companies
Supporting business creation by 18 to 30 year olds.
National campaign by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs, harnessing the expertise and passion of Britain's leading business people; aims to celebrate, inspire and accelerate enterprise in the UK.
Basic information on establishing co-operatives.
Grant funding, loans and contract search website.
A partnership between the University of Northampton and Exemplas: a support service for the social enterprise sector providing information, specialist advice, training, consulting, coaching and mentoring to new and existing social enterprises and social entrepreneurs.
A partnership of organisations from the community, voluntary, enterprise, government and regional development sectors of the East Midlands.
Details of thousands of serviced offices in the United Kingdom.
A commercial property brokerage company offering all kinds of office space, these include flexible, serviced or conventional spaces across Northamptonshire. A completely free service to help you find the office space suited to you.
Designed specifically for small businesses, startups and freelancers; search all the main types of office space for rent and then compare available space on a like-for-like desk cost basis.
Directory of serviced office space in Northamptonshire
The Prime Office Space search facility allows you to search for serviced, managed, temporary, flexible and traditional office space to let.
Search all types of office space nationally, whatever the size of your business; whether you need a single desk, or space for 100 desks.
Private membership organisation running business clubs and networking.
Open to businesses in the Corby District and surrounding villages including Weldon, Rockingham, Gretton, Cottingham, Middleton, East Carlton, Stanion, and Little Stanion.
Business community for businesses based in Kettering, Desborough, Rothwell, Burton Latimer and surrounding villages.
Events delivered all over the country, where women can meet established local female entrepreneurs, learn from their experiences and network with other local aspiring female entrepreneurs.
Support network for all pre-start, new and established businesses
Providing fortnightly breakfast meetings and monthly evening meetings where like-minded business owners can come together to listen, learn and share their ideas.
Monthly social networking evenings discussing business matters and local issues.
Founded in 2007 and holds several evening meetings each month.
Connecting businesses in Wellingborough and villages in the surrounding area.
Free subscription resources