Government has made significant progress in promoting business mentoring in the last year
Business and Enterprise Minister Mark Prisk said:
“A year ago, we pledged to encourage more people to use a business mentor and to increase the supply of volunteer mentors recruited from the business community, which we have achieved.
“The government remains committed to working with partners to develop the network of business mentors, who contribute so much to the growth of the small business community. There is still much work to be done, and we have aspirations to recruit and train thousands more business mentors...
Business and Enterprise Minister Mark Prisk has announced key milestones in mentoring support for entrepreneurs
Business and Enterprise Minister Mark Prisk has announced key milestones in mentoring support for entrepreneurs as the first Global Entrepreneurship Congress to be held in Europe gets underway.
The week-long Congress in Liverpool will see a range of activities to champion the entrepreneurial spirit of business people in the UK and around the world. Today, Mark Prisk has announced that the Get Mentoring initiative to recruit 15,000 volunteer business mentors has now passed the halfway mark with more than 7,500 signed...
SME manufacturers may be able to claim Manufacturing Advisory Service funding of up to £10,000 towards implementing strategic change
Under the scheme, SME manufactures can claim funding up to £10,000 (or 50% maximum) towards approved projects carried out with the help of E-MK advisers. Business strategy specialist E-MK was one of the first to be registered as an approved MAS delivery partner.
E-MK’s advisers have extensive experience and expertise in starting, growing, funding and exiting successful manufacturing businesses.
The new funding is for suitable projects that fall under the MAS Level 4 Transformation Service for a strategic change...
The Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) to be operated by the Manufacturing Advisory Consortium (MAC) from January 1st 2012
A new nationally operated Manufacturing Advisory Service will focus on helping small and medium sized manufacturers to grow, Business Minister Mark Prisk announced recently.
The new service will be delivered by the Manufacturing Advisory Consortium (MAC) and will help create an estimated £1.5bn in economic growth, 23,000 jobs and safeguard 50,000 jobs.
The Manufacturing Advisory Service will continue to deliver a national service to all manufacturing businesses in England but the new consortium now means that there...
Grants of up to £1,000 are available for business growth and strategy development
Businesses with between 2 and 250 full time equivalent employees, who display the potential for high or fast growth, can apply for funding to develop the leadership and management skills of their senior management team.
The 2011/12 Leadership and Management fund is managed in the South East by Skills South East and in the East of England and East Midlands by EMB Ltd, on behalf of the Skills Funding Agency. Up to £1,000 Leadership and Management matched funding can be put towards one or a combination of development...
Nothing new under the sun!
I have lost count of the number of business people I have met whose eye’s gloss over when I have asked them about their business plans. Unfortunately, many business owners think that planning is a waste of time, when it’s actually just good common sense.
I came across the following, in a book I have been reading, that illustrates why planning is as important now as its always been.
“No wonder, said an Ancient that chance has so much power over us, since it is by chance that we live. Anyone who has not groomed...
An unbeatable offer for your growing business
Would your business benefit from some independent thinking?
An e-mk Advisory Board could be the answer.
No business is too small to benefit from having an advisory board. It is such a powerful management tool – can you afford to be without one?
The e-mk Advisory Board Programme offers a refreshingly different and increasingly effective alternative to hiring “consultants” and “business coaches”. The Programme provides you with affordable access to an independent and impartial team of experienced...
Views wanted on tax simplification ideas for small business
Small businesses and advisers are being invited to give their views on tax simplification ideas put forward for discussion today by the Office of Tax Simplification (OTS).
In the latest development in the ongoing review of small business taxation, the OTS has set out a number of options in two consultation papers, focusing on disincorporation for small companies, and a simpler income tax for the smallest businesses.
The consultations, which run until 7 October 2011, set out a number of options from clerical changes...
Business Link’s new helpline going live in November…
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has appointed Indian-owned call centre provider Careline Services, in partnership with the Business and Enterprise Group, to provide its new Business Link helpline. The service is due to go live on 25th November 2011, the day the Business Link Regional Services close.
The telephone helpline is an important part of the Government’s new framework of support for businesses. In conjunction with the Businesslink.gov.uk website, the helpline will support small businesses...
Are you looking for an investor? Do you know what investors are looking for in you?
Equity finance is a way of raising capital from external investors in return for a share of your business. Raising capital can be a time-consuming process and will require you to disclose a lot about your business, you and your management team. A key aspect is making sure you have suitable professional advisers working on your behalf.
The first step in preparing to raise any type of capital is the production of a detailed business plan that includes a detailed marketing plan and realistic financial projections. Investors...