Business Support

There are many organisations offering business support across the North Midlands. This section of the website will help you to understand which public funded services are available for your company. Although not a totally precise science, public funded business support basically falls into three categories:

Start-up Support
If you have yet to start your own business or if you have been in business for less than a year, your company will be categorised as a Start-up. Click here for further details of Start-up Support.

Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Support

Your business is categorised as a Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) if it: Employs less than 250 people; Has an annual turnover of less than Euro 50 million; Has an annual balance sheet value of less than Euro 43 million; Is no more than 25% owned by another organisation that falls outside of the SME category.

Click here for further details of SME support

Large Business
Your business is categorised as a Large Business if it exceeds the SME limits described above or if it is a subsidiary of a group that falls outside of the SME definition. Click here for further details of Large Business support. In addition to this targeted, specific support, there are a few sources of support that are available to all companies irrespective of their classification:

International Trade
If your company is engaged or requires help in order to commence international trade – either exporting or importing product. Click here for further details.

DTI Business Support
The Department of Trade and Industry offer a number of business support programmes. Some are only available to SMEs, but a number are open to all. For details visit www.dti.gov.uk

DBERR Business Support
The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform offers a number of business support programmes. Some are only available to SME's but a number are open to all. For details visit www.berr.gov.uk

Sector Specific Support
Within the East Midlands there are a number of sector based organisations which serve the interests of companies of companies engaged in those specific sectors. You will find further details of each of them on their websites:

Food and Drink: visit www.foodanddrinkforum.co.uk
Energy and Environmental Technologies: visit www.eiforum.org.uk
Creative Industries: visit www.creativegreenhouse.org.uk
Healthcare: visit www.medilinkem.com
Aerospace: visit www.midlandsaerospace.org.uk
Clothing and Textiles: visit www.emtex.org.uk

Support to Manufacturing

Specialist support to manufacturing businesses is available through the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS), which is run in our region by PERA. The MAS provides subsidised support and hands-on advice to manufacturers to help them improve their competitiveness. Contact details for further information on how the MAS can help you are:

Website: www.mas-em.org.uk
Email: rcme@pera.com
Telephone: 01664 501301

In addition to these general business support services, there are a number of local business support services co-ordinated through local authorities. It is always worth a call to the local authority which serves the area your business is located in, or will be located in, to check what local business support services are available. Click here to access a list of local authority contacts who will be pleased to help you.