Local business support,in one place.
Finance, grants, accountants, legal help, councils and premises for small businesses in Cheshire, Warrington and the Liverpool City Region. Free to use.
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Start Up Loans
UK-wideGovernment-backed personal loans for business use, with free mentoring, for businesses trading for up to three years.
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British Business Bank
UK-wideThe government's economic development bank. Its finance hub explains every kind of business finance and the schemes it backs.
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Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund
North WestRegional loans and equity investment for small and medium businesses across the North of England, including Cheshire and Merseyside. (Search for the current website.)
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MSIFLocal
Liverpool City RegionMerseyside Special Investment Fund: a long-standing lender and investor focused on businesses in the Liverpool City Region.
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Responsible Finance
UK-wideThe membership body for community development finance lenders, with a finder for lenders who back businesses banks turn down.
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Business Finance Guide
UK-wideAn independent, plain-English guide to the types of finance and the questions lenders ask.
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The trade body for asset finance and leasing. Useful for checking a lender is a member before financing vehicles or equipment.
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Business Debtline
UK-wideFree, confidential debt advice for the self-employed and small businesses, before problems become a crisis.
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UK Export Finance
UK-wideGovernment support for exporters, including finance and insurance so you can win and fulfil overseas contracts.
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Find a Grant (GOV.UK)
UK-wideThe government's searchable list of open grants, filterable by who can apply and what for.
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Innovate UK
UK-wideCompetitive grants and loans for innovative products and services, from feasibility studies to scaling up.
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Innovate UK Business Connect
UK-wideConnects innovative businesses with funding calls, partners and expert advice.
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Crowdfunder
UK-wideUK reward and donation crowdfunding, often used for local business launches and community projects.
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Crowdcube
UK-wideEquity crowdfunding: raise investment from the public in exchange for shares.
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Kickstarter
UK-wideReward crowdfunding for creative projects and new products, with an international audience.
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The national body for angel investment, with directories of angel networks and guidance on raising investment.
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SEIS and EIS (HMRC)
UK-wideTax reliefs for people who invest in small, early-stage companies. Check eligibility before you approach investors.
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The King's Trust
UK-wideSupport for 18 to 30 year olds exploring self-employment, including workshops, mentoring and in some cases funding.
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Community Foundation for MerseysideLocal
Liverpool City RegionDistributes grants to charities, CICs and community groups across Merseyside and Lancashire.
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Cheshire Community FoundationLocal
Cheshire & WarringtonGrants for charities, CICs and community groups across Cheshire and Warrington.
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The largest community funder in the UK, open to many CICs and social enterprises as well as charities.
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Search for ICAEW chartered accountancy firms by postcode, sector and service.
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ACCA
UK-wideThe Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, with a directory of practising members.
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AAT
UK-wideThe professional body for accounting technicians and bookkeepers, with a search for licensed members.
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The professional body for chartered tax advisers, with a directory of members.
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The body for tax technicians, with a directory of members who handle compliance and returns.
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Self Assessment (HMRC)
UK-wideRegister, file and pay Self Assessment if you are self-employed or a partner in a business.
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Register for VAT
UK-wideWhen you must register, how to do it and the VAT schemes that can make it simpler for small firms.
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Making Tax Digital
UK-wideHMRC's digital records and quarterly reporting rules, and which software is compatible.
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Companies House
UK-wideRegister a company, file accounts and confirmation statements, and check other companies.
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Search for regulated solicitors near you by area of law, from commercial leases to employment.
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Check a solicitor or firm is regulated before you instruct them.
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Acas
UK-wideFree, impartial advice for employers on contracts, hiring, disciplinaries and disputes.
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Data protection and GDPR guidance for small businesses, and the annual data protection fee.
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Intellectual Property Office
UK-wideRegister trade marks and designs, apply for patents and search what is already protected.
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Business & IP Centre LiverpoolLocal
Liverpool City RegionPart of the British Library's national network, based at Liverpool Central Library, offering free market research databases, IP advice and workshops. (Search for the current website.)
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Free help with late payment and unfair payment practices by larger businesses.
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Health and Safety Executive
UK-wideSimple health and safety guidance, risk assessment templates and the rules for your sector.
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LawWorks
UK-wideFree legal help from volunteer lawyers for small charities, community groups and some social enterprises.
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Cheshire West and Chester CouncilLocal
Cheshire West and ChesterBusiness rates, licensing, planning and business support for Chester, Ellesmere Port, Northwich, Winsford and the surrounding villages.
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Cheshire East CouncilLocal
Cheshire EastBusiness rates, licensing, planning and support for Crewe, Macclesfield, Congleton, Wilmslow, Knutsford, Nantwich and Sandbach.
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Warrington Borough CouncilLocal
WarringtonBusiness rates, licensing, planning and support for Warrington, Lymm, Stockton Heath, Culcheth and Birchwood.
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Halton Borough CouncilLocal
HaltonBusiness rates, licensing, planning and inward investment support for Widnes and Runcorn.
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Liverpool City CouncilLocal
LiverpoolBusiness rates, licensing, markets, planning and business support for the city.
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Wirral CouncilLocal
WirralBusiness rates, licensing, planning and business support across the Wirral peninsula.
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Sefton CouncilLocal
SeftonBusiness rates, licensing and support for Southport, Crosby, Formby, Maghull and Bootle.
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Knowsley CouncilLocal
KnowsleyBusiness rates, licensing and support for Huyton, Kirkby and Prescot.
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St Helens Borough CouncilLocal
St HelensBusiness rates, licensing and support for St Helens, Newton-le-Willows and the surrounding towns.
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Liverpool City Region Combined AuthorityLocal
Liverpool City RegionThe Metro Mayor's combined authority, responsible for regional growth, skills and transport funding across the six city region councils.
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Growth PlatformLocal
Liverpool City RegionThe Liverpool City Region's growth company and growth hub, with free business advisers and access to regional programmes.
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Enterprise Cheshire and WarringtonLocal
Cheshire & WarringtonThe business-led partnership that took over from the Cheshire and Warrington LEP, including the sub-region's growth hub and business support. (Search for the current website.)
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The reliefs available, including Small Business Rate Relief, and how to apply through your council.
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Enter a postcode to find which council covers a business address.
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Liverpool Chamber of CommerceLocal
LiverpoolMembership, networking, export documentation and representation for businesses across the city.
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Wirral Chamber of CommerceLocal
WirralMembership, events and business support for firms across the Wirral.
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St Helens ChamberLocal
St HelensBusiness support, training, apprenticeships and networking in St Helens and beyond.
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Warrington & Cheshire Chamber of CommerceLocal
Cheshire & WarringtonMembership, networking and representation for businesses in Warrington and Cheshire.
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West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of CommerceLocal
Cheshire West and ChesterNetworking, export support and representation for businesses in west Cheshire and across the border.
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Chester BIDLocal
Cheshire West and ChesterChester's business improvement district, funding events, promotion and a cleaner, safer city centre.
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Liverpool BID CompanyLocal
LiverpoolRuns Liverpool city centre's business improvement districts, with events, safety and promotion for member businesses.
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National policy, schemes and support for small businesses, including help to export.
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Business support (GOV.UK)
UK-wideThe government's searchable finder for business finance and support schemes by location and business type.
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Rightmove Commercial
UK-wideSearch commercial property to let or buy, from shops and offices to industrial units.
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Realla
UK-wideA commercial property search covering offices, retail, industrial and flexible workspace.
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Find a property's rateable value and challenge it if you think it is wrong.
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Planning Portal
UK-wideGuidance on whether you need planning permission or building regulations approval, and applications online.
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Sci-Tech DaresburyLocal
HaltonA national science and innovation campus near Runcorn, with offices and labs for high-tech businesses.
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Liverpool Science ParkLocal
LiverpoolOffices and labs in Liverpool's Knowledge Quarter for science, technology and digital firms.
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Alderley ParkLocal
Cheshire EastA life-sciences campus near Macclesfield offering labs, offices and support for growing companies.
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Birchwood ParkLocal
WarringtonOne of the North West's largest business parks, in Warrington, with offices, labs and industrial space.
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Wirral WatersLocal
WirralThe long-term regeneration of Birkenhead's docks, bringing new commercial and mixed-use space to Wirral.
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Membership for the self-employed and small firms, with legal and tax helplines, insurance and lobbying.
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Mentorsme
UK-wideA gateway to business mentoring organisations, many of them free or low cost.
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Google Digital Garage
UK-wideFree online courses in digital marketing, analytics and online skills.
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Social Enterprise UK
UK-wideThe national body for social enterprise, with guidance on structures, trading and Buy Social.
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How to set up and run a community interest company, and the reports a CIC must file.
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Help to Grow: Management
UK-wideSubsidised management courses delivered by business schools for growing small businesses.
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Local Business SupportPartner
North WestOur sister service: £299 small-business websites, practical AI training and free start-up resources for Wirral, Liverpool and Cheshire.
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La Vida MediaPartner
North WestPrinted magazines, websites and social media celebrating independent local businesses, including La Vida Cheshire.
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Build My Future CICPartner
North WestA community interest company helping people and communities in the areas we serve.
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