Examples of the type of help and support available to those considering starting a business/becoming self-employed

Organisation / Website / Details
Organisations offering support aimed at 50+
National Enterprise Allowance / / New Enterprise Allowance can provide money and support to help you start your own business if you’re JSA, ESA, IS or UC. You could get a weekly allowance paid for up to 26 weeks (up to a total of £1,274) and apply for a loan to help with start-up costs. The loan has to be paid back, the allowance doesn’t
UnLtd / / UnLtd provides support to social entrepreneurs in the UK. UnLtd resources hundreds of individuals each year through its core Awards programme. Itinvests directly in individuals and offers a complete package of resources; from awards of funding to ongoing advice, networking and practical support
Age UK / / Advice on key areas to consider when setting up a business and signposts visitors to useful information including the HMRC website
Opportunity Plus / / The Opportunity Group offers four key strands and one includes the development of people over the age of 50. It assistspeople who decide that it is now time to set up their own business and use all their knowledge and experience they have gained in their working life. They havea range of courses to help evaluate potential business ideas and assist at every stage of a business venture. Starting Your Own Enterprise is an Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) recognised course and is designed for potential business people who want to promote that yearning to develop their skill/talents and turn them into a business.
PRIME Cymru / / The Prince's Initiative for Mature Enterprise in Wales is a registered charity founded by HRH the Prince of Wales and the only organisation in Wales dedicated to providing practical support to people aged 50 and over who want to become and remain economically active. It has already helped more than 11,000 people in Wales to return to economic activity with more than 50% of this number achieving their dream of starting a business and working for themselves. PRIME Cymru ensures that the most relevant resources are readily available and prides itself on reacting quickly to the needs of individuals and provides a comprehensive support and advice service.
Organisations offering support for all entrepreneurs
Institute of Enterprise & Entrepreneurship / / The Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneursis for anyone who is thinking about starting or already running their own business, those who support them and those employed in innovative and entrepreneurial businesses.Its purpose is to support its members in developing and continuously improving their enterprising skills allowing them to maximise both their personal potential and their wider contribution to the growth and success of UK PLC.It has more than 30,000 members from across the spectrum of enterprise activity – students who have yet to start a business, entrepreneurs in the early stages of running their business, business owners looking to grow their business, managers working in an enterprising way, mentors and support professionals, and recognised learning providers.It offers enterprise related training and qualifications, enterprise events and enterprise resources working with a range of private and public sector partners and delivering through a network of Centres of Enterprise Excellence and Enterprise Academies
FiftyON East / / Suffolk-based community interest organisation offering workshops on transferable skills, employability and skills and self employment for the over 50s
Examples of the range of information and help available on self-employment
Business Gateway / / Business Gateway is a publicly funded service contributing to the economic wellbeing of Scotland by providing access to free business support services. We give assistance and impartial advice to people starting or growing their business
Citizens Advice / / Handy self-employment checklist
Gingerbread (single parents) / / Tools to help you to start your own business
Lloyds Bank (many other banks/financial institutions offer similar advice) / / Help and advice in planning and operating a business
National Enterprise Network / / Support organisation for the enterprise sector
Prospects (graduates) / / Is self-employment right for you?
SAGE / / Free guide to starting your own business, packed with tips and practical advice
Small Business / / Range of information including start-up funding and business management advice
Start Ups / / UK’s leading independent, online resource for anyone starting and growing a business.
Established in 2000, we are the longest serving, largest and most comprehensive advice platform available covering everything you need to know to start, buy, run or sell a business
Start Up Donut / / Range of information about starting up a business including tax and pensions
Standguide / / Specialists in self employment, working with jobseekers who want to be self employed. They highlight both the positive and negative sides of running a business to help customers make an informed decision about whether or not self employment is for them