On this page: Local | Government | Business Start Up | Company Directories | Finance and Annual Reports | Grants and Funding | Market Research
Local
2West Midlands www.2wm.co.uk/ess
Useful gateway into the West Midlands, from links to business support, land and property searches, jobs, grants, news and events. Registration is free.
Government
Directgov www.direct.gov.uk/Homepage/fs/en Gateway to Government services and departments, including Companies House, Chambers of Commerce and the Department of Trade & Industry.
Department of Trade and Industry www.dti.gov.uk Government website of DTI working with businesses, employees and consumers to increase UK productivity and competitiveness
Business Link www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/home
National site which offers practical advice for all business needs from starting up to expanding your business; regulations and licences, taxes, VAT, sales and marketing etc.
Business Start Up
Best For Business bestforbusiness.com
Portal to free business information. Access to all aspects of business information with over 700 fact sheets e.g obtaining grants; action plans e.g writing a business plan and know how guides e.g SWOT analysis. Also has West Midlands bias for tenders and grants.
Start Business www.startbusiness.co.uk
Easy to navigate minimalist site run by experienced start up advisers. Covers topics such as start up ideas, business plans, funding, business jargon and good links to other online resources
Enterprise Agencies www.nfea.com
Network of independent, but not for profit, Local Enterprise Agencies targeting pre-start, start-up and micro businesses and assisting in building their ability to survive, to sustain themselves and to grow.
Company Directories
WMCCM www.wmccm.co.uk/
A free West Midlands on-line business directory and networking resource . Includes details of regional businesses, events and news. The local company directory is searchable by product, service, type of company and location.
Ask Alix askalix.co.uk
Leading online directory & search company covering UK & 14 European countries
Kompass UK www.kompass.co.uk
Covers approximately 180,000 manufacturing and service companies. You can view a list of companies showing the name, town, post code and county. Detailed information for some companies is free but the full service is charged for.
Finance & Annual Reports
Carol www.carolworld.com
Free registration gives access to fianacial pages of listed companies in Europe and the USA. Also access to annual reports on-line
Yahoo Finance uk.finance.yahoo.com
Masses of useful information including share prices,both current and historical,,stock market indices and many UK company reports
Hemmington-Scott www.hemscott.net
Free source of information on UK listed companies, details of Directors' share dealings, in depth financial information on over 2300 quoted companies and Financial Statistics. In depth information is charged for.
Northcote www.northcote.co.uk
This is a free website which allows you to find company information and links to published information such as financial reports, webcasts and press releases. Registration is necessary but free and operates a strict privacy policy.
Financial Times ft.ar.wilink.com/asp/P003_search_ENG.asp
Free service to annual reports which can be done by name of the company or the industry. Also has a useful list of the most popular reports which you can receive in hard copy or by email.
Grants and Funding
J4b - Search for Government Grants for your Business www.j4b.co.uk
Searchable database of grants and loans available to small businesses. Information is free but you need to register.
Prime www.primeinitiative.org.uk
The only national organisation dedicated to helping people aged over 50 to set up in business. They are a not-for-profit company whose aim is to release the untapped potential of people 50+.
Prince's Trust www.princes-trust.org.uk
Helps 18 to 30 year olds into business, that are unemployed or under-employed, (part timers), without the financial means to start their own business.
Business funding UK www.business-funding-uk.org.uk
The Uk’s most comprehensive directory of funding websites and other links
Market Research
Key Note www.keynote.co.uk
Select Report Search to access free executive summaries within market sectors and a contents list for each report. There is a pay-as-you-go service to purchase full reports.
Mintel www.mintel.co.uk
Mintel publishes more than 50 consumer market reports each month and also provides tailored product information and research on any market. Some summaries are free, as are lists of reports.
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