Support for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

General Business Support
General Business Support for Small and Medium Enterprises is provided through the Business Link service, which is publicly funded and hence either free or available at an attractive subsidised rate. Business Link services include advice on:

  • Finance and Grants (including a Grantfinder service)
  • Taxes and payroll
  • Employing people
  • Training
  • Health and Safety
  • Exploitation of ideas
  • IT and e-commerce
  • Sales and marketing
  • International Trade
  • Growing your business
  • Buying and selling a business
  • Tailored advice for individual types of business


Although in 2007 we will be moving to a Regional Business Link, this service is currently provided on a County basis. Within the North Midlands the Business Link contact details are as follows:

North Derbyshire:
Business Link Derbyshire
Commerce Centre
Canal Wharf
Chesterfield
Derbyshire S41 7NA

Telephone: 0845 601 1038
Email: info@derbyshire.org
Website: www.businesslinkderbyshire.com

North Nottinghamshire:
Business Link Nottinghamshire
5 Phoenix Place
Phoenix Park
Nottingham NG8 6BA

Telephone: 0845 757 3680
Email: info@blnotts.com
Website: www.blnotts.com

Access to Finance

• Growth Investment Network
In addition to the excellent finance and grants advice available through Business Link, there is also a further very useful free source of information on access to finance available to businesses in the North Midlands. The “Growth Investment Network” (GINEM) provides a web based information service to assist entrepreneurs to locate advisors and sources of finance such as business angels, grant funding, venture capital and expansion funds. To find out more visit www.ginem.co.uk

• Regional Grant Schemes
Two excellent regional grant schemes are open to North Midlands businesses (administered through our local Regional Development Agency emda). Both have informative and easy to use mini websites. They are:
  • The Grant for Research and Development (GRD) It does exactly what its name implies! Visit www.emda.org.uk/grd
  • Selective Finance Initiative (SFI) Available for provide funds to assist in both expansion and relocation, many North Midlands companies have already benefited from SFI. NB it is not universally available as it is designed to encourage businesses in the areas where business growth is most needed (the “Assisted Area”). For more details, including a “postcode checker” which clarifies eligibility, visit www.emda.org.uk/sfi


• The Coalfields Enterprise Fund
As some of the North Midlands is a former coalfields area this allows businesses in the ex mining communities access to a commercial venture capital fund set up by the Deputy Prime Minister known as the Coalfields Enterprise Fund. This fund aims to support the growth of business and encourage entrepreneurship in former coalfields areas. It has £20M to invest to finance new start companies, expansion of existing businesses, acquisitions and mergers, and buy-outs/buy-ins. For further details including advice on what areas of the North Midlands are eligible visit www.coalfieldsenterprisefund.co.uk

Chambers of Commerce
Chambers of Commerce are independent networks of businesses, operating on a County basis, which have existed for over 200 years. They are local, independent, non-profit making organisations funded by membership subscriptions. Members have access to a range of services, all geared towards helping them succeed and grow. These include business training, business information, networking and opportunities to save on essential overheads, all of which are tailored to individual business needs. For further details of our two local Chambers of Commerce visit their websites as follows:


The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)
The FSB is a local, independent, non-profit making organisation funded by membership subscriptions which exists to serve the small business community. In particular the FSB can provide advice on all business and employment legislation and how it effects the small business. It also promotes and organises networking opportunities for small business owners. Further details of the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Branch of the FSB are available as follows:

Website: visit www.fsb.org.uk
Email: ro.nottsandderby@fsb.org.uk
Telephone: 01629 825314