Find Out How To Start Your Own Business

Do you want to start your own business?  Redundancy or job loss can often trigger a desire to take your career in a new direction. If you’re thinking of launching your own business there are lots of resources available to help you.

Training

If you’ve always dreamed of being an entrepreneur join one of Buckinghamshire Business First‘s free virtual ‘Be Your Own Boss’ courses. This start-up business support service helps you develop the skills you need to start your own business. The next Be Your Own Boss event is on 13th January 2021.

Buckinghamshire Libraries’ Information & Learning Team are running free Business Information Sessions on 6th January 2021 email lib-ref@buckinghamshire.gov.uk for details.

Companies House sometimes run free webinars and have previous ones available to view on their website.

Financial Support

You may be able to receive a New Enterprise Allowance to help you setup a new business if:

• you or your partner get Universal Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance
• you get Income Support and you’re a lone parent, sick or disabled

You’ll get a mentor who will give you advice to help you develop a business plan and launch your business.

Once your mentor has approved your business plan, you:

• may get a weekly allowance worth up to £1,274 over 26 weeks
• can apply for a loan to help with start-up costs

New Business Start-up Resources

NatWest Business Hub – Business guidance, Toolkits, Market Trends and Events

GoDaddy – GoDaddy guide to starting a business

Startups – small business advice platform, covering everything you need to know to start, buy, run, or sell a business.

The Princes Trust Enterprise Programme – For 18-30-year-olds interested in setting up a business.

The library offer free access to COBRA, Complete Business Reference Adviser. This online resource contains more than 4,000 factsheets, market reports, contacts and sources of funding and support plus hundreds of practical guides to starting up more than 350 types of business. Login with your library card number.

Careers Springboard Support

If you’re not sure whether starting your own business is right for you it might help to talk explore it with a coach. As a Careers Springboard member you can book free coaching sessions.