Useful resources
Careers Service Resources
The following are available in the Careers Service:
- Cobra - online practical information resource for business start-ups
- TEDCO Business Plan guide - includes a business plan template. Note: We've included a link to this template as a guide only - not all sections may apply to your idea.
- informnorth magazine - specialist magazine for self-development, skills and enterprise
- North East Business magazine
- Networks - science, engineering and technology magazine for the North East
Useful websites
General
- bdaily - North East business news
- Prospects - self-employment section
- Freelance Advisor
- Careerplayer - videos of entrepreneurs talking about their businesses
- Guardian careers community: How to become a graduate entrepreneur - Q & A forum with panel of experts (2 August 2010)
- What do researchers do? Career profiles of doctoral entrepreneurs 2010
Business start up
- Business & IP Centre Newcastle - business hub, based at the City Library, with information and advice for people wanting to start or grow a business. Includes events, workshops and coaching sessions.
- Business Link No-Nonsense Guide to Starting a Business [pdf]
- HMRC: Starting your own business - e-learning resource from HM Revenue and Customs. Includes information and advice on registering as self-employed and VAT registration.
- Startups
- National Business Register - support and set up for entrepreneurs and new businesses
- Enterprise Nation - information and advice for people starting and growing home businesses
- Doug Richard's School for Startups - business training and advice
- Getting British Business Online - online tool to create a free website for your business
- Creative Boom - online magazine for the creative industries. Aims to support and promote freelancers and businesses.
- Start Up Britain - new campaign offering a range of business support for new and growing businesses.
- The Co-operative Enterprise Hub - advice, training, funding and consultancy on how to set up, run and grow a co-operative business.
- Office Genie - find office space for small businesses, start ups and freelancers. Can search for spare desk space, shared offices and serviced offices to rent
Networking and business support organisations
- Business Link North East
- TEDCO - Starting your business
- Enterprise UK - campaigns, events, national competitions and inspiring stories.
- Make it happen - free 12 month programme to support graduates setting up in business
- National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship
- NACUE (National Consortium of University Entrepreneurs) - national organisation which supports and represents university enterprise societies and student entrepreneurs
- Bridge Club
- Entrepreneurs' Forum
- bizpond - find things you need for your business and promote what you do.
- Prince's Trust
- Shell Livewire
- Project North East
- If we can, you can - social networking site
- Women into the Network
- Smarta - business advice and networking site
- Horsesmouth - online mentoring site
Funding and finance
- Raising Finance (video) - edited highlights of a lecture held as part of the Rise Up Entrepreneurship Programme (formerly NU Enterprise Programme), led by Peter Hiscocks, Fellow in Entrepreneurship, University of Cambridge (Feb 2010)
- Business Link No-Nonsense Guide to Small Business Funding [pdf]
- Business Link Non-Nonsense Guide to Finance for High Growth and Innovative Businesses [pdf]
- J4bGrants
- Finance Tree
- HE Social Entrepreneurship Awards - awards available to students wanting to start up and/or develop a social enterprise project
- North East Access to Finance - includes Access to Finance Guide 2011[pdf, 5MB]
- Shell Springboard - competition for small businesses who have an innovative product or service that will help address climate change. Winners receive cash prizes of up to £40,000
- Turn2us - search for charitable funding
- Ideas Fund - funding opportunities for creative projects
Legal
- Legal Structures: the basics - information from Business Link
- Law Society - Lawyers for your business
- Companies House
Intellectual Property
- UK Intellectual Property Office
- Free online intellectual property courses from the British Library
- Own it - IP advice for creative businesses
Information for international students/graduates
- International Case Studies (video) - international graduates from Newcastle University talk about the issues of starting a business in the UK
- UK Border Agency - information on working and setting up a business in the UK for international students and graduates
- UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) - advice and information to international students studying in the UK
Other useful contacts/resources
- Social Enterprise Coalition
- SFEDI- UK Sector Skills body for enterprise
- British Franchise Association
- Confederation of British Industry
- Enternships - places students in entrepreneurial/start-up businesses for work experience in UK and overseas.
- Jottify - online community which allows people to share, discuss and sell anything they have written.