Useful Links
Sections:
Business Support
Business Finance
Creative Sector
Social Enterprise
2012 Olympics
Miscellaneous
Other Business Mentoring Organisations
Business Support
Business Link – helping businesses to start up and grow
www.businesslink.gov.uk/southwest
Dates of local Business Link events (scroll down to the Dorset section)
BusinessXchange – Dorset’s lively network for business people
www.businessxchange.org.uk
Rural Dorset Business Clubs – networking clubs for businesses in rural Dorset
www.ruraldorsetbusinessclubs.co.uk
Federation of Small Businesses – support organisation for small businesses
www.fsb.org.uk
Dorset Chamber of Commerce & Industry (Dorset Business)
www.dorsetbusiness.net
The Prince’s Trust – support for entrepreneurs aged 18-30
www.princes-trust.org.uk
Dorset Retail SkillShop – specialist support for retailers
www.thecollege.co.uk/faculties/serviceindustries/retailskillshop.php
PRIME – 50+ self-employment and enterprise support
www.primeinitiative.co.uk
UK Trade & Investment – supports exporters, international trading etc
www.ukti.gov.uk
Train to Gain – free advice and funding for training
www.traintogain.gov.uk
Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) - helps manufacturing businesses improve their productivity, reduce waste and compete more effectively
www.mas.bis.gov.uk/south-west
Bournemouth Chamber of Trade & Commerce
www.bournemouthchamber.org.uk
Lord Sugar’s ‘Business Basics’ videos – Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) YouTube channel
www.youtube.com/user/bisgovuk#p/u/2/ztuF_ECfQms
TalentMap – a simple framework to help navigate the UK education, employment and skills systems
www.talentmap.ukces.org.uk/UKTalentMap/home.do
Business Finance
Enterprise Finance Guarantee – Government guaranteed loan scheme
www.businesslink.gov.uk/sflg/
South West Investment Group – SW business finance provider
www.southwestinvestmentgroup.co.uk
Fredericks Foundation – provides small loans and business support
www.fredericksfoundation.org
South West Angel and Investor Network (SWAIN) – connects private investors, or ‘Business Angels’, with companies looking for investment
www.swain.org.uk
Managing Cashflow Guides – on-line portal designed to help you get paid
www.creditmanagement.org.uk/berrguides.htm
Brightbook – free on-line bookkeeping site
www.brightbook.co.uk
Business Debtline – free national business helpline offering confidential and independent advice on how to deal with debt problems
www.bdl.org.uk
Creative Sector
Creative Dorset – support for creative businesses in Dorset
www.creativedorset.co.uk
South West Design Programme – design support for businesses
www.swdp.org.uk
ArtsMatrix – supports creative businesses in the South West
http://artsmatrix.plymouthart.ac.uk
Social Enterprise
Social Enterprise – resource for business people who are passionate about changing lives, building communities and nurturing the environment
www.socialenterpriselive.com
Co-active – works with individuals and communities across South West England to create, innovate and improve social enterprises
www.co-active.org.uk
ClearlySo – the global hub for social business, social enterprise and social investment
www.clearlyso.com
2012 Olympics
Team Dorset – helping Dorset benefit from hosting the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Weymouth & Portland and leaving a real significant legacy
www.teamdorset.org.uk
CompeteFor – giving businesses unique access to 2012 Olympic opportunities
www.competefor.com/london2012business/login.jsp
Miscellaneous
Buy with Confidence – Trading Standards Approved Traders
www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk
Dorset Property Pilot – find vacant business premises in Dorset
www.investindorset.co.uk/sites-premises.html
Dorset Business Awards – recognising the achievements of Dorset’s most vibrant businesses
www.dorsetbusinessawards.co.uk
Buy Dorset – promoting Dorset businesses to Dorset people
www.buydorset.co.uk
Dorset for You – access local authority information
www.dorsetforyou.com
Start your own Business – the paper for new entrepreneurs in Dorset
www.syob.co.uk/dorset-business/index.php
Advice Guide – on-line help from Citizens Advice
www.adviceguide.org.uk
The LowDown - the economic bulletin for Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole
www.dorsetforyou.com/index.jsp?articleid=344928
Statistics For Business and the Economy in the South West
www.swo.org.uk/business/home.shtm
SFEDI standard for supporting clients by business mentoring
www.sfedi.co.uk/standards/business-support-standard/index_html/e-support-clients-by-business-mentoring
Other Business Mentoring Organisations
Mentor-net – Hampshire & the Isle of Wight (08454 586454)
www.mentor-net.co.uk
South Devon Business Mentors (01803 540500)
www.southdevonbusinessmentors.co.uk
Dormen is not responsible for the continuity of the above links or the content of external websites. If any links are broken or missing, please advise us via info@dormen.org.uk.
