Need help with writing your business plan or finding funding? Looking for organisations that provide mentoring programmes or support for disabled entrepreneurs?
Explore the list of organisations and resources below:
- Setting up and funding your business in the UK
- Resources for disabled entrepreneurs
- Building your entrepreneurial skills
Setting up and funding your business
Gov UK: the UK government can help you navigate everything you need for setting up a business (including the legal and financial side). On the Gov UK website you can find tools and guidance that cover tax, finance, debt, laws and regulations, licences, copyright and trademarks, and more…
Business Wales: The Welsh government also has its own web page with similar advice that is specific to setting up a Business in Wales.
Can Do: The Scottish Government sponsors Scotland Can Do which can help you find competitions, networks, and support and advisory services in Scotland.
NI Direct: The government website for citizens of Northern Ireland provides information about specific programmes and initiatives available in Northern Ireland.
The Prince’s Trust: The free Enterprise programme includes information, workshops, mentoring and a chance to present your business plan. You can get in touch to find out more about what’s involved.
The National Lottery: you can find and apply for funding you are eligible for with National Lottery Grants and Project Funds.
The Ingenuity Programme: this programme is a national innovation programme that directly addresses the UK’s major social, health, and environmental challenges through the creation of impactful new start-ups. The most impactful ideas are awarded top prizes and receive a share of £75,000 in prize funding.
Resources for disabled entrepreneurs
Scope: Scope is a disability equality charity in England and Wales. They provide practical information and emotional support for disabled people, including disabled self employed people.
The Stelios Awards for Disabled Entrepreneurs: These awards have three life changing prizes of £50,000, £30,000 and £20,000 for disabled entrepreneurs. You can find out if you’re eligible and when the awards are open to apply on their website.
The SAMEE charity: This charity enables people to explore self-employment. They offer a bespoke supported self-employment internship programme for special educational needs learners called ‘Steps into Self Employment’.
Building your entrepreneurial skills
Discover the essential skills you’ll need to be a successful entrepreneur here.
Youth Employment UK: To get started with skills building, use the free Young Professional training programe to learn about these skills and plan ways you can build them, use them, and show them off.
Google Digital Garage: You can build your digital and professional skills with both free and paid courses and events from Google. You can cover topics such as data analytics, marketing, video creation, coding, selling online and more.
