Additional support and guidance

Further specialist support is available for businesses in South Ribble.

HM Government

The GOV.UK website provides support and information for all businesses including details of suppliers, advice and funding sources.

Help to Grow

Businesses with 1 to 249 employees can now receive discounts worth up to £5,000 on approved software under an expansion of the Help to Grow: Digital scheme. The scheme was previously only open to those businesses with more than 5 employees.

Lancashire Innovation Network

Dementia Friendly

Are you a café, bar or restaurant with an outdoor dining area? We are the South Ribble Dementia Action Alliance , a group of local individuals and organisations, our aim is to enhance the quality of life of people who live in the area, living with dementia (and their carers).

Dementia Friendly Business Advice Leaflet Aug 21

Lancashire Manufacturing Growth Fund

Lancashire Manufacturing Growth Fund is a  service for Lancashire manufacturers including specialised manufacturing and food & drink. It offers support for projects which create new jobs and develop new products. 

https://lancashiremanufacturing.co.uk

Enterprise Nation - She Means Business

Enterprise Nation have partnered with Meta to support women across the UK to grow their businesses online, please follow the link to find out more: https://www.enterprisenation.com/campaigns/she-means-business/

Wenta

Wenta is an independent, not-for-profit, social enterprise that exists to make it easier and greener to start and run a successful business. Wenta offer support in starting-up, maintaining or growing their own business. To find out more please follow the link - Business skills training webinars and workshops (wenta.co.uk)

Skills Bootcamp in Procurement

Our Skills Bootcamp in Procurement is an intensive training programme that covers all essential aspects of procurement. Participants will learn about strategic sourcing, supplier relationship management, ethical purchasing, and cost-saving techniques. The programme is designed to be practical and hands-on, ensuring that participants gain real-world skills that can be immediately applied in their roles.

Creative Lancashire 

Creative Lancashire - provided by Lancashire County Developments Limited, Creative Lancashire supports digital and creative businesses with a range of sector-specific specialist business development and investment advice. Tel: 01772 536648

Visit England Business Advice Hub

The Visit England Business Advice Hub offers information and support on starting-up, marketing, quality assessments and tourism planning guidance. Please visit the Business Advice Hub to find out more.

Visit Britain

For customer facing businesses, Visit Britain offers a digital marketing toolkit  - helping you to build connections with existing and potential customers, to raise your profile and use analytics to improve your content. The Visit Britain Digital Marketing Toolkit  takes you through the basics of marketing, advertising and online booking, so you can make sure your digital marketing counts.

Lancaster University Management School

Lancaster University Management School is running the Lancashire Forum for directors and managers of Lancashire-based SMEs with real growth ambition. Over four months, you will learn the business development skills and tools needed to drive your business forward, form a trusted network of like-minded SMEs and gain access to talks from inspirational experts.

Social Enterprises

Social enterprises can apply for funding through the Reach Fund . Please see their webpages and our downloads page for details.

The South Ribble Social Enterprise page has further dedicated information on social enterprise support.

Technology Strategy Board 

The Technology Strategy Board offers support and funding to help businesses develop new products and services. Innovate UK support includes access to funding; finding partners for collaboration; innovation advice; and access to testing for new technologies. Tel: 01793 442700 or email: support@innovateuk.gov.uk

Nesta 

Nesta  is an innovation charity with a mission to help people and organisations bring ideas to life. Nesta supports ideas with activities ranging from early stage investment to in-depth research and practical programmes. Tel: 020 7438 2500 or email: information@nesta.org.uk