Start Ups
This is aimed at SMEs. It has a clear and simple design and combines news with practical advice. There’s plenty of practical advice in a no-nonsense style.
www.princes-trust.org.uk
An independent organisation aiming to foster success in young people to start and develop their own businesses. Also hosts a national competition for start-ups to accelerate young business ideas. Free advice for 16 to 30 year olds.
www.newbusiness.co.uk
A comprehensive website dedicated to new businesses.
Provides the latest information on how Shell Livewire assists people aged 16-30 who are looking to start their own business.
www.j4b.co.uk
Offers a simple 4-step grant search service. It has comprehensive, up-to-date information on business grants currently available in only a few seconds. It contains regional information on around 5,000 capital grants.
www.businesslink.gov.uk
Practical advice for business (managed by the DTI).
Government Departments and Agencies
A really excellent site. Advice for small businesses and those going self-employed. It’s surprisingly helpful and full of useful information.
Department of Trade & Industry
HM Treasury
Home Office
Companies House
This provides information for limited companies, including name searches and basic company information.
CCTA Government Information Service
Dept. for Education & Employment
Office of Fair Trading
Financial Services Authority
Her Majesty’s Stationery Office (HMSO)
Charity Commission
Business Link – national business advice service
Stationery Office Official Documents
Stationery Office Virtual Bookstore
www.direct.gov.uk
www.berr.gov.uk
The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform is the government department responsible for UK business.
www.sbs.gov.uk
Small Business Service (an agency of the dti)
www.hse.gov.uk
Government health and safety advice.
www.statistics.gov.uk
This is the site of the National Statistics Office. It’s updated regularly.
Accounting sites
Accountancy Age
Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (ICAEW)
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
Accounting Web
Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)
ICAS (Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland)
The Small Business Service
Payroll
Payroll Software from Moneysoft.
Tax sites
Chartered Institute of Taxation
HM Revenue & Customs
Capital Taxes Office
Tax Faculty
Other professional sites
Association of Business Recovery Professionals (R3)
Institute of Arbitrators
Insolvency – general information
Law Society
The Pensions Regulator
Factors and Discounters Association
STEP
General business information
Institute of Directors
Dun & Bradstreet
Stock Exchange – NASDAQ
OFEX
FTSE (share index)
Health and Safety issues
Federation of small businesses
Business Link – national business advice service
British Chambers of Commerce
London Stock Exchange
Pensionsnet
British Venture Capitalist Association
Professional Contractors Group
This is the site of the British Chamber of Commerce, the national voice of local business providing a range of services including international trade, training and cost-effective commercial services.
www.fsb.org.uk
The Federation of Small Business is the leading political lobby for British small business.
www.yell.co.uk
Home of the online version of the Yellow Pages. Search by keywords and browse by category. A hugely impressive site with massive investment.
www.accountingweb.co.uk
A website designed for the accountancy community providing accounting and taxation information.
www.patent.gov.uk
The UK Patent Office
Business Index Links
UK B2B Directory – Directory of B2B companies in the UK
Business Services Directory
IndexUK – Free Website Directory
Business Services Directory – UK business services.
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