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Support and Guidance for New and Expanding Businesses

Business Wales

Business Wales supports the sustainable growth of small and medium size enterprises by offering information, guidance and a number of business support services, including business planning, marketing, training courses and help with finance.

Find out more:
Visit: www.business.wales.gov.uk or call 03000 6 03000 for more information.

Development Bank for Wales

Flexible finance for businesses based in Wales from £1,000 up to £5 million. Loans and equity. Secured and unsecured. Investing in startups, early stage enterprises and more established businesses, they provide short term project finance, longer term growth finance, follow on investment and additional working capital.

Find out more:
Visit: www.developmentbank.wales/ or call 0800 5874140 for further information.

Superfast Business Wales

A fully-funded business support service that helps small and medium sized businesses exploit all available digital technologies. Take advantage of attending practical masterclasses, 1:1 support from a digital business advisor and free downloadable software.

Find out more:
Visit: www.businesswales.gov.wales/superfastbusinesswales/ or call 03000 6 03000 further information.

Princes Trust

Supporting young people aged 18-24 to work on their business ideas and take them forward with training, mentoring and low interest loans.

Find out more:
Visit: https://www.princes-trust.org.uk or call 0800 842 842 for more information.

Chwarae Teg – Make Yourself programme

The Employer’s Programme offers fully-funded, bespoke business support, which includes 1:1 consultancy, a business culture survey, results analysis with recommendations, tailor made equality & diversity action plan and up to 35 hours of fully funded support over a period of 12 months.

Find out more:
Visit: www.makeyourself.wales/makeyourself.aspx or call 0300 365 0445 for more information.

Careers Wales

(Apprenticeship Scheme & Jobs Growth Wales)
Careers Wales provides free services tailored for employers, including recruitment support, employment & legislation and redundancy support.

The Apprenticeship Scheme works with business to develop employees providing work based learning and training to develop skills and experience.

Jobs Growth Wales supports business with advice and finance to employ 16-24 year olds for 6 months, with a view to permanent employment.

Find out more:
Visit: http://www.careerswales.com/en/employers/ or call 0800 028 4844 for more information.

Carbon Trust Wales

Supporting organisations across Wales to tackle energy costs, lower their carbon footprint and to move towards a sustainable, low carbon economy.

Find out more:
Visit: https://www.carbontrust.com or call 0300 123 1100 further information.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)

HMRC offers detailed information for businesses. The Small Business Online Forum is a quick and easy way for small businesses to get answers to their tax questions, as well as help with starting a business and support for growing a business.

Find out more:
Visit: https://www.gov.uk/

ACAS

ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) provides free and impartial information and advice to employers and employees on all aspects of workplace relations and employment law.

Find out more:
Visit: www.acas.org.uk or call 0300 123 1100 further information.

University of South Wales (USW)

USW Exchange is a purpose built centre that can facilitate networking, diagnostic sessions, growth seminars and other activities which support start-ups and existing SME’s. These services are run by academics and students. The Business Clinic aims to provide answers to business queries developed in partnership with students, thus enabling cross cutting skills development.

Find out more:
Visit: http://www.southwales.ac.uk/business/ and http://www.uswexchange.co.uk/ or Call 01443 482482 for more information.

Coleg y Cymoedd

Coleg y Cymoedd is able to offer flexible training, advice, development and bespoke solutions for business and industry. They have specialist centres, commercial training, professional courses and apprenticeships.

Upskilling@Work is designed to enhance skills and increase productivity in the workplace, by providing subsidised opportunities for accredited workforce qualifications.

Find out more:
Visit: http://www.cymoedd.ac.uk or Call 01443 663128 for more information.

Social Business Wales

Provides intensive 1:1 support to social businesses across Wales which are looking to expand or create jobs.

Find out more:
Visit: www.businesswales.gov.wales/socialbusinesswales Or call 03000 6 03000 further information.

Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WVCA)

Advice, information and support for charities and voluntary organisations, including employing and managing people. Social Investment Cymru, part of WCVA, also administers the social business growth fund, communities investment fund and micro business loan fund.

Find out more:
Visit: http://www.wcva.org.uk or call 0800 288 8329 for more information.

Wales Co-operative Centre

Wales’ national body for co-operatives, mutual’s, social enterprises and employee owned businesses.

Find out more:
Visit: http://wales.coop/ Or Call 0300 111 5050 for more information.

Coalfields Regeneration Trust (CRT)

A charitable company and social enterprise that develops programmes which help people gain new skills, achieve qualifications, find work and set up and grow new businesses.

CRT administers a third sector micro business loan fund for those wishing to expand or start an enterprising activity that will generate income and create jobs.

Find out more:
Visit: http://www.coalfields-regen.org.uk or call 01443 404455 for more information.

All information stated is correct at time of printing and RCT Council takes no responsibility for the accuracy and reliability of any information included in the Information provided by third parties.