Business Support

There are a number of organisations who may be able to give business advice, support and guidance.

Business Link Wessex - Provides a wide range of impartial advice and specialist services to businesses of all sizes located in west Dorset.  Services include consultancy and advice on starting a business, funding, business planning and networking.  The briefing search will take you to a variety of informative business briefings from Business Link Wessex, covering everything from starting to closing a business, and including fact sheets, case studies and news articles.  For further information, please call 08454 588558.

National Business Link website: businesslink.gov.uk

Dorset Business Directory - is available on the County Council’s website.  The directory provides details of over 8,000 Dorset based businesses.

Dorset Business Mentoring - The Dorset Business Mentoring Programme (Dormen) provides one-to-one mentoring support for businesses throughout Dorset.  During the first three years of its operation, the programme has supported over 300 businesses across the county – ranging from sole traders to medium sized companies.

Dorset County Council – Services undertaken by the County Council include the provision of statistics and information on social and economic issues, trading standards and work with enforcement authorities.

Employment for Students - bringing you the latest student jobs, part time jobs, temporary jobs, internships and graduate jobs and the best deals for students.

Envirowise - offers free, independent support to your business helping you to become more resource efficient and save money.  Waste costs money, typically up to 4% of business turnover, and by finding ways to reduce waste, your company could become more profitable.

Federation of Small Businesses - The FSB is the largest campaiging pressure group promoting and protecting the interests of the self-employed and owners of small firms.  Formed in 1974, it now has over 185,000 members across 33 regions and 230 branches.  For further information, please check www.fsb.org.uk or call Wessex Regional Office 01425 280080.

Learning and Skills Council – The local Learning and Skills Council (LSC) in Dorset is responsible for ensuring that skills development, training and enterprise development programmes are provided in Dorset which meet local individual and business needs.  For further information please call Sue Farrell 01202 488400.

Legislation Update, October 2009.

A number of regulation changes come into effect on 1 October 2009. A few key of areas of change are highlighted here.

More detailed information is also available in the detailed summary of legislative changes

NetRegs - provides free environmental guidance for small and medium-sized businesses in the UK. We will help you to understand what you need to do to comply with environmental law and protect the environment. We may even help you to save money by showing you ways to use your resources more efficiently.

Princes Trust - Aims to help young people make their way in life through self-employment. Financial and other assistance is targeted at disabled people and young people (aged between 18 and 30) who are unemployed or disadvantaged and that have a viable business idea.  For further information, please call 01202 888845.

Property - Wanting to dispose of or acquire a commercial property, www.investindorset.co.uk/property-search or contact the Property Pilot Coordinator, Jo Rufus 01305 224 797

Rural Business Support Group - A group of like-minded local business professionals, working in and across all sectors, with untold years of experience and knowledge relevant to the business community in general.

Rural Shops Alliance - The Rural Shops Alliance is a national trade association working to support the owners of independent rural shops.  It represents over 7,000 such businesses in England.

Save Money - by using resources efficiently:

Shell LiveWire Scheme – Shell offers support for young people, aged less than 26 years, starting up in business.  For further information, please call 0345 573252.

Shell sponsored STEP programme has placed over 22,000 enterprising graduates into small businesses across the UK and placements of under 3 months are exempt from tax and national insurance.

South Wessex Waste Minimisation Group (SWWMG) - Founded in 1996, the club has more than two hundred members and is one of the country's most successful waste minimisation groups. It holds meetings quarterly at the Crown Hotel, Blandford. Meeting are open to members. Membership is free and new members can enrol through SWWMG’s website.

Supply2.gov.uk – is the only official Government lower-value (typically below £100,000) contract opportunity portal, created by the Government to provide small businesses with access to lower-value public sector contracts – a huge potential market expected to exceed £175 Billion* this year within the UK alone.  The site unites buyers and suppliers together for the first time and businesses can register free.

Support for Village Shops - up to £500 available to Village Shops to improve services or help establish new services.  See the Village Shops Help Fund Press Release for full details.

The North Dorset office of Business Link Wessex at Gillingham runs Business Clubs covering our District.

There are a number of Agricultural and Rural Advisory services.

You can find information about these and other organisations by visiting our Useful Organisations page.