Access finance available to support small businesses
Are you and your business looking to start up, scale up or
stay ahead? Start Up Loans of
up to £25,000 can give you a much-needed boost if you’re
just starting out. Or take a look at the Finance
Hub and the British Business
Bankfor more finance options for smaller businesses.
Call the Business Support Helpline
The free Business Support Helpline can help businesses of
all sizes find the right advice and support at all stages
of the business journey – whether you’re starting out,
growing or looking to stay ahead.
You can email enquiries@businesssupporthelpline.org, live
chat or call 0300 456 3565 Monday to Friday,
9:00am to 6:00pm. 
If you’re having issues with not being paid on time,
the Small Business
Commissioner can provide advice on late and unfair
payment, help you take action and work to resolve disputes.
Put your business up for a Queen’s Award
Winning a prestigious award can give your small business a
boost. The Queen’s Awards for
Enterprise are recognised globally as a mark of
quality for UK business and entrepreneurs. Almost any UK
business can apply for free. The next round of applications
opens in May 2019.
Apply for government contracts
Our Contracts
Finder lets you search for information about
government and agency contracts worth over £10,000 and
explore information on previous tenders to see whether one
might work for you.
See which large businesses pay their invoices on time
Large businesses have a duty to report on their payment
practices. You can access this
information to find out whether a business you’re
intending to trade with is likely to pay on time.
Take advantage of support for innovation
If you’re a UK-based small business developing an
innovative product, process or service, Innovate
UK could help you get your idea off the ground.
Become more competitive by making a few simple changes
Be the
Business can help small and medium sized companies
across the UK supercharge productivity and earning power by
making a few small but effective changes.
Get advice on selling overseas
If your small business sells overseas, UK Export
Finance can help you access the right finance and
insurance to help you win vital international contracts.
Get involved in Small Business Saturday
Visit the Small Business Saturday
website to register and advertise your business
for free on their Small Business Finder, and find out how
else you can get involved. Don’t forget to use local small
businesses near you and encourage others to do the same
this 1 December.
