Start-up support - an overview

Mentoring and business networking can allow you to benefit from the knowledge of other industry professionals.

A business mentor has experience running a business and can offer guidance, support and advice to a new entrepreneur.

Business networking is an opportunity for you to meet with other business people, make new contacts, get new leads and find ways that you may be able to help each other.

Many networking events are available through several different organisations, including trade associations and Chambers of Commerce.

Find your local Chamber of Commerce with the British Chambers of Commerce directory.

Networking is also increasingly available online, through groups set up on social networking websites or through specialist websites, such as LinkedIn.

Go Succeed

Access free start-up business support from your local council. If you have a great idea but you're not sure how to turn it into a business, or you have already started out in business and require mentorship on your next steps, Go Succeed Start experts will help you to create a business plan, seek funding and put all the foundations in place to get your business up and running.

Complete a short enquiry form or call 0800 027 0639 to register for this free advice and guidance.

Mentorsme.co.uk

Mentorsme.co.uk is the government-supported national mentoring network. Many of the UK's major business mentoring organisations are represented here, and there are details of thousands of business mentors for you to search for - many of whom provide their services free of charge.

Find business mentors with mentorsme.co.uk.

Financial support and ongoing training

The government can also provide financial support for your business in a number of ways.

You may be able to obtain finance from Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs). These organisations provide loans and support to businesses and individuals who have had trouble getting finance from sources such as banks and building societies.

Northern Ireland business support finder

The Northern Ireland business support finder is a searchable database that can help you find publicly-funded and not-for-profit sources of assistance you may be eligible to apply for. Support may be available in a number of forms, including financial assistance and free or subsidised advice services. Search for business support and finance.

There is a growing number of successful female entrepreneurs in Northern Ireland. More and more women are viewing starting their own business as an attractive career option and are choosing to set up their own business; and there is more help and support available to female entrepreneurs than ever before.

There are lots of business organisations aimed specifically at women - at both local and national levels.

These include:

• Women in Business
• everywoman
• Prowess
• AwakenHub

However, many more may offer face-to-face networking events and the opportunity to network online.

Councils and local enterprise agencies also run specific initiatives for female entrepreneurs.

• Find your local council contact details in Northern Ireland
• Find your local enterprise agency with Enterprise Northern Ireland

You can also access free start-up business support from your local council. If you have a great idea but you're not sure how to turn it into a business, or you have already started out in business and require mentorship on your next steps, Go Succeed Start experts will help you to create a business plan, seek funding and put all the foundations in place to get your business up and running.

Complete a short enquiry form or call 0800 027 0639 to register for this free advice and guidance.

For more information see start-up support for female entrepreneurs.

If you are disabled and want to set up a new business, there could be extra support available for you.

• nidirect's Access to Work programme can help people with disabilities who wish to take up employment.
• Disability charity Leonard Cheshire and easyGroup chairman Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou run an annual award for an exceptional disabled entrepreneur - the Stelios Disabled Entrepreneur Award. If you wish to apply you will need to demonstrate how the prize money would make a major difference to your business. Find out more about the Stelios Disabled Entrepreneur Award.
• If you have a disability and usually work 16 hours or more a week, you may also be able to get extra tax credits. The disability must be one that makes it hard for you to get a job and you must be receiving, or have recently received, a qualifying sickness or disability-related benefit.
• The Shaw Trust is a national charity that provides training and work opportunities for people who are disadvantaged in the labour market due to disability, ill health or other social circumstances. Find out how the Shaw Trust can help you.
• The Association of Disabled Professionals (ADP) provides a forum for disabled people to share problems and experiences. It also offers employment advice and information and support for disabled people, including advice on issues relating to benefits and networking opportunities. Find ADP disabled employment advice.

You can also access free start-up business support from your local council. If you have a great idea but you're not sure how to turn it into a business, or you have already started out in business and require mentorship on your next steps, Go Succeed Start experts will help you to create a business plan, seek funding and put all the foundations in place to get your business up and running.

Complete a short enquiry form or call 0800 027 0639 to register for this free advice and guidance.

For further information see starting a business: advice for people with a disability.

There are established business support networks specifically for black and minority ethnic businesses that provide information about starting a business, how to get finance and advice and other help once the business is up and running. This support includes:

• The African Caribbean Business Network (ACBN) provides a business network helping African and Caribbean owned businesses in the UK.
• The National Black Women's Network (NBWN) offers consultation and support for personal achievement and professional development - find out about business networking events near you.

You can also access free start-up business support from your local council. If you have a great idea but you're not sure how to turn it into a business, or you have already started out in business and require mentorship on your next steps, Go Succeed Start experts will help you to create a business plan, seek funding and put all the foundations in place to get your business up and running.

Complete a short enquiry form or call 0800 027 0639 to register for this free advice and guidance.

If you receive benefits and want to set up a new business, it is worth discussing your business plans with a Jobs & Benefits officer. They will be able to tell you how starting a business will affect your benefits and point you in the direction of practical support.

You may also be entitled to Working Tax Credits. These are payments to top up the earnings of working people on low incomes, including the self-employed. Find out about HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) Tax Credits.

You can also find out about Working Tax Credits by calling the HMRC Tax Credits Helpline on Tel 0845 300 3900.

As you develop your plans to start a business you will find it helpful to get as much advice as possible. Advice and support is available to business start-up's in Northern Ireland from:

• Invest NI's regional office network offers training and advisory services to those starting up in business.
• Shell LiveWIRE help 16-30 year olds to start and develop their own businesses and runs an annual national competition for new business start-ups.
• The Prince's Trust provide start-up support including a range of loans and grants to 18-30 year old unemployed entrepreneurs.

You can also access free start-up business support from your local council. If you have a great idea but you're not sure how to turn it into a business, or you have already started out in business and require mentorship on your next steps, Go Succeed Start experts will help you to create a business plan, seek funding and put all the foundations in place to get your business up and running.

Complete a short enquiry form or call 0800 027 0639 to register for this free advice and guidance.

For further information see starting a business when unemployed.

There are a number of schemes that offer advice and support if you are a young entrepreneur. Many of them can also help if you are finding it difficult to raise finance.

The King's Trust

The King's Trust NI can help 18-30 year-olds who are unemployed or in part-time work and are interested in starting a business. You can apply to them for a low interest loan. The Trust also offers free legal advice and many other support services. Find out how the King's Trust can help you start your business.

Young Enterprise

Young Enterprise has several programmes aimed at giving young people an understanding of how business works through running their own businesses. Find details of Young Enterprise programmes.

Working tax credits

If you are not earning very much in the first months of your business, you may also be entitled to Working Tax Credits. These are payments to top up the earnings of working people on low incomes, including the self-employed. For more information, see support for entrepreneurs on low incomes.

Find out about HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) Tax Credits.

You can also find out about Working Tax Credits by calling the HMRC Tax Credits Helpline on Tel 0845 300 3900.

Graduate entrepreneurs

If you're a graduate or student, you can access advice and support with the National Council for Entrepreneurship in Education (NCEE).

Your local council

Access free start-up business support from your local council. If you have a great idea but you're not sure how to turn it into a business, or you have already started out in business and require mentorship on your next steps, Go Succeed Start experts will help you to create a business plan, seek funding and put all the foundations in place to get your business up and running.

Complete a short enquiry form or call 0800 027 0639 to register for this free advice and guidance.

For further information see start a business: support for young entrepreneurs.