Trade associations
There are plenty of trade associations to help start-ups and small business in the UK. Name your industry and the chances are it has a trade association.
Trade associations are a great source of up-to-date industry information. What they can tell you about industry trends and market research can really help you with your marketing strategy.
Often you can keep abreast of developments in the industry by taking part in various training programmes that also equip you with the requisite skills for that field.
It is fairly common for trade associations to have codes of conduct. They can advise you on how to adhere to these principles, fight your corner when suppliers have acted unscrupulously, and arbitrate any disputes you have with competitors.
Trade associations sometimes arrange events and other forums for networking with others in the industry. This can be done on a regional level because they often have regional branches.
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) represents all small and medium businesses and lobbies government on their behalf. With a 200,000-strong membership, the FSB is the largest organisation of its kind. It has offices for all UK regions, so you can get region-specific help and advice.
Business support organisations
A plethora of general business support organisations exist. They offer advice and support on most areas of business, or at least direct you to people that can help.
The largest organisation is Business Link, set up by the government. It has branches all over the country, so you can get regional as well as national advice.
Business Link runs an Information, Diagnostic and Brokerage (IDB) service. The idea is to provide you with everything you need to know about the industry you are in and about business generally, to diagnose you and your business’ needs, and to find the professional support necessary to fulfil those needs.
The Business Link website is well laid out and informative. If you are starting a business the section that details the licences and regulations applicable to your particular type of business should be especially useful.
A host of other business support organisations, some more specialised, can be found in the links bar on the right-hand side.
