Self-employment
FUNDING www.artscouncil.org.uk
The national development agency and the main funding body for the Arts sector. www.artscouncil.org.uk/funding/ Funding for individual, freelance /self employed apply-for-funding/artists-internation- artists to build links in another country. al-development-fund/ www.artscouncil.org.uk/funding/ Grants for the Arts is a lottery funded grants-arts programme providing grants for arts related activities www.j4b.co.uk Information on business grants and funding UK & Ireland www.businessfinanceforyou.co.uk Includes a finance directory www.gov.uk/business-finance-support-finder http://www.artquest.org.uk/how-to- A list of crowdfunding organisations articles/crowdfunding/ Crowd-funding is a relatively new concept where you can raise funding online. Check out Artquest’s list of crowdfunding websites. www.ideastap.com/IdeasMag/TheCrowdfunding sites which have funded creative Knowledge/crowdfunding-guide projects. http://www.crowdingin.com/ A database of crowd funding platforms to help organisations and individuals in the UK to source funding. https://spacehive.com/ Funds communities and civil projects www.acf.org.uk Association of Charitable Foundations. Represents trusts and foundations in the UK www.mediadeskuk.eu/ Offers funding for media initiatives www.ccfund.co.uk The Creative Capital Fund: Provides funding to entrepreneurs & businesses in the creative industries. www.gle.co.uk/onelondon/ Services includes financing businesses; especially self-employed people with a low credit history. Applicants are referred to GLE by an enterprise agency. www.creativeindustry-finance.org.uk An Arts Council initiative offering business support and access to funding to creative businesses. www.awardsforall.org.uk/ Lottery grants and funding for projects www.lotteryfunding.org.uk/ https://app.hiive.co.uk/competitions/ Funding for creative projects. ve/1053/
FUNDING (CONTINUED) www.startuploans.co.uk/ www.dwp.gov.uk/adviser/updates/ new-enterprise-allowance/ https:// www.gov.uk/new-enterprise-allowance www.virginstartup.org/about/ www.childcarebusinessgrants.dcms. gov.uk/ EVENTS/NETWORKING http://uk.gew.co/ www.bstartup.com
Government backed initiative proving funding & business mentoring. New Enterprise Allowance-financial support & mentoring for jobseeker allowance claimants Offers business start-up support/funding Childcare business grants scheme offering up to £500 to start a new childcare business
Global Entrepreneurship Week The Business Startup Show, 17-18th November 2016, Olympia, London. The Business Startup Show is a free event comprising of masterclasses and seminars from entreprenueurs. https://www.gov.uk/government/ HM Revenue & Customs offers a range of collections/hmrc-webinars-emailwebinars for the self- employed including alerts-and-videos record keeping, income tax and how to complete your self-assessment form online. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/business/ City Business Library: Seminars to help new and economic-research-and-information/ existing businesses. city-business-library/seminarsworkshops-training/Pages/seminarsand-workshops.aspx?page=1 www.angelsden.com/events-list Pitching events for entrepreneurs and business www.angelsden.com/businessadvice clinics funding-clinics; www.business-scene.com/events_ landing/business_scene_events https://www.gov.uk/government/ Companies House’s seminars for first-time publications/companies-housedirectors events-calendar/companies-houseevents-calendar www.own-it.org/events Intellectual property advice for creative people www.bl.uk/bipc/index.html The British Library and IP Centre. Organises selfemployment workshops/events of which some are free. www.disabled-entrepreneurs.net Provides networking opportunities for selfemployed people with disabilities. www.business-events.org.uk/ www.enterprisenation.com/events/
BUSINESS SUPPORT Business support advice over the telephone www.hmrc.gov.uk/startingup/ help-support.htm www.hmrc.gov.uk/webinars/ self-employed.htm#2 www.startupdonut.co.uk/
0300 456 3565, Monday –Friday, 9am-6pm Business support including webinars, information videos and free online business start-up courses HMRC self-employment webinars Advice and information for starting your own business ranging from business planning to financing your business.
www.greatbusiness.gov.uk/ funding-and-support-todevelop-new-ideas/ https://www.leonardcheshire. The Stelios Award - for entrepreneurs with disabilities, org/what-we-do/stelioscheck website for next Award date award-disabled-entrepreneurs http://goodstory.org.uk/ Business support for creative entrepreneurs. Offers a mentoring scheme for entrepreneurs with dyslexia in association with the British Dyslexia Association www.smarta.com/ syob2/ Advice and networking for people starting and running a business www.bl.uk/bipc/ British Library Business & IP Centre: support for people interested in setting up a business include: business start-up workshops, help with your business planning and business networking events. https://www.gov.uk/browse/ Comprehensive information on starting your business business/setting-up ranging from setting up as a sole trader, your business plan to selling to customers www.startupbritain.org/reThe Prince’s Initiative for Mature Enterprise (PRIME) was sources founded by Prince Charles helping people over 50 to become self-employed. PRIME is now part of Business www.bitc.org.uk/ in the Community: www.nesta.org.uk/ Invests in early stage businesses focusing on science, technology www.hmrc.gov.uk/courses/ HMRC’s starting your business free online e-learning syob2/syob2/index.htm package. www.businessesforsale.com www.shell-livewire.org Business and funding support. www.princes-trust.org.uk Help includes: writing a business plan, mentoring and financial support. www.business-survival-toolkit. A business start- up toolkit for creative businesses co.uk www.mentorsme.co.uk Connects businesses to mentoring organisations www.businessesforsale.com/ Sell or buy a business for sale.
BUSINESS SUPPORT CONTINUED www.nationalenterprisenetwork.org/ www.businessadviceservice. com www.nacue.com
http://nacue.com/varsitypitch2016
Offers support to micro businesses, the self-employed & business start-ups. Includes a directory of regional/ local enterprise agencies Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales’ business advice service Provides funding (i.e. the innovation fund), business support and skills training to university enterprise/ entrepreneur societies. Organises events such as the Startup Career Launchpad conference and the student enterprise conference Runs the Varsity Pitch competition, an opportunity for college and university entrepreneurs to win £10,000 for their business idea. Apply by midday Friday 16th September 2016
FREELANCE JOBS www.studentgems.com Freelance projects in a range of areas for students. https://www.freelancer.co.uk/ Freelance projects and an opportunity for freelancers to showcase their skills via their online profile https://www.upwork.com/ Freelance online projects in various roles including administration, design and creative, writing, engineering and architecture, translation and law www.toptal.com Freelance website/network for software developers and designers www.peopleperhour.com www.freelancers.net USEFUL ORGANISATIONS AND WEBSITES http://www.prospects.ac.uk/ self_employment.htm www.uwl.ac.uk/ceee/ students-and-graduates/ self-employment HM Revenue & Customs. Information on self www.hmrc.gov.uk assessment, national insurance, tax, record-keeping etc Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy https://www.gov.uk/gov(BEIS ernment/organisations/department-for-business-energy-and-industrial-strategy UK Trade and Investment Government department https://www.gov.uk/govwhich aims to help UK businesses to succeed ernment/organisations/ internationally uk-trade-investment
USEFUL ORGANISATIONS AND WEBSITES (CONTINUED) www.companies-house.gov.uk Companies House is responsible for registering and dissolving limited companies in the UK. www.britishchambers.org.uk/ British Chambers of Commerce. Provides support to local businesses. Check the website for local business events. www.companies-house.gov.uk Companies House is responsible for registering and dissolving limited companies in the UK www.yell.com Business directory www.hse.gov.uk Health and Safety Executive www.fsb.org.uk Federation of Small Businesses www.iod.co.uk Institute of Directors www.direct.gov.uk/en/EmEmployment rights in the UK. ployment/index.htm www.acas.org.uk Provides advice, information and training for employees and employer to help resolve workplace issues SOCIAL MEDIA - TWITTER Don’t forget to look for companies to follow particularly those you would like to work for and to use the # to get the latest jobs and news about the sector. Useful feeds to follow: @e_nation @BusinessLinkGov @beisgovuk @UKBAngels @CBL_London @The_IPO
@nesta_uk @BIPC @StartUpLoansUK @The_Ipo @BoomzoneUK
@schoolofstartup @PrincesTrust @ealingmumsinbiz @UKTI @thebusinessshow
Do you have a business/creative idea; do you know your intellectual property rights? www.ipo.gov.uk/iphealthcheck.htm Follow: @The_IPO
Leaflet last updated: Maggie Danquah, August 2016
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