The Small Business Council advises the Government on small business issues. It comprises of 24 members, of whom 22 are small business owners. The Council published its third annual report in July 2003 with nine recommendations to Government for improving the environment that small businesses operate within.

Young people wanting to set up a business can find advice and sometimes finance from the Prince's Trust and 'Livewire' (sponsored by Shell UK Ltd).

If you are unemployed but want to move into self-employment, your local Jobcentre can tell you about suitable work-based training.  See the Jobcentre Plus website for further information.

If you are young, you could get further help with starting a business under the New Deal. Parts of the UK have been designated as 'Employment Zones' and here the Department for Work and Pensions will be helping to get businesses off the ground.

The Government has created a new fund to encourage entrepreneurship in disadvantaged communities and groups. The Phoenix Fund can put resources into Community Finance Initiatives so that local organisations can help new and growing businesses. 

The Ethnic Minority Business Forum advises ministers on the needs of ethnic minority businesses.

New businesses (particularly those using new technology) can get help with premises and management from the UK Business Incubation Centre or from one of the 50 UK Science Parks.

The DTI's Small Firms Loan Guarantee underwrites loans from banks and other financial institutions for small businesses. The initiative is for businesses that have failed to obtain a conventional loan because of a lack of security.

UK online for business helps UK businesses exploit Information Communication Technologies (ICTs). The programme is part of UK online, an initiative to push the UK to the forefront of e-business.

Grant for Research and Development is a DTI initiative that provides grants to help individuals and small and medium-sized businesses to research and develop technologically innovative products and processes.

The UK Trade and Investment International Business Awards helps firms to exploit niche markets.

There are regional schemes to help small businesses, supported by the European Structural Funds. They are normally administered by Government Offices in the English regions and delivered through organisations such as local Business Links (and their equivalents outside England). Find out more from these organisations or from the National Assembly for Wales, the Scottish Executive and the Northern Ireland Executive.

Most banks have arrangements to help customers in new and small businesses. You can also get business advice from professional accountants, solicitors and independent financial advisers.

The Future of Corporate Learning - Case Studies