Entrepreneurs should make more of free resources that are available to help them grow their businesses, according to insurance company More Th>n.
Despite small businesses accounting for almost half of all jobs in the UK and the growing popularity of working from home, many small businesses need help in areas such as HR, finance, sales and marketing, says Mike Bowman, head of More Th>n Business.
"Small businesses are the backbone of the UK economy and need a lot of support in order to grow and flourish," he said. "The spotlight is often focused on extending levels of government support. However, there is a massive pool of freely available advice that is currently not being fully exploited."
More Th>n suggests entrepreneurs consider seeking advice from the following bodies to help give their venture the best chance of flourishing:
Industry bodies,
forums and associations
These are a great source of professional support and advice
across education, training and sector specific issues. The Glasgow Chamber of
Commerce (GCoC), for example, is a significant business aid and advice centre
for small businesses based in the area, organising business seminars, networking
and support events on a regular basis for its members
Banks and financial institutions
Provided you don't sign on the dotted-line, utilising all
the expert advice from financial organisations regulated by the FSA is a
brilliant way to get a head start and it's free. A bank manager or an
independent financial adviser will be able to assess your current needs and
identify potential financial options for you to consider. Also, banks often
have offers available aimed at making the finance side of starting your
business as easy as possible
Industry events
There are several events for small businesses that take
place in the UK
throughout the year which are free to attend. Business Startup or Growing Your
Own Business, for example, can offer help and advice on any issue that small
businesses might face: from websites to taxation, accountancy to book-keeping,
raising finance to controlling cashflow
Major international companies
Some companies provide practical advice as part of their CSR
education and training programmes and have been committed during the last
couple of years to offering advice and support for start-ups. Shell, for
example, has a created a portal called LiveWIRE which provides information,
advice and practical support for 16-30-year-olds starting up their own
business. It offers a free ‘essential business kit' to every caller, tailored
to their specific business idea, one-to-one advice through a national network
of local business advisers and mentors and an interactive web service and idea
exchange
The internet
Thanks to the internet, you can now harness valuable
worldwide resources and information on new and existing markets, competition
and customers
