What's on offer to help start-ups?

[Diesel]

I'm so not up to speed on what assistance various bodies can offer new businesses (I still think its the WDA!) as essentially I have been too busy getting on with it. However I think the time is right to develop the business into a more formal business and move on from essentially freelance consulting and word of mouth work.

What would be useful would be help and advice on marketing and knowing if additional funds to enable this and take on a staff member are available. If you are 'doing' you cant market or sometimes even answer the phone (but then you all knew that).

If anyone has a sentence or two of advice that may point me in the right direction and save me hours do let me know!

Thanks

D

 

[CKG]

If your North Wales I have a contact that can help you with grants and assistance...

 

[QVA - Emma]

Hello,

You should contact Flexible Support for Business based in Cardiff.

Their website is www(dot)business-support-wales(dot)gov(dot)uk, hope that helps

Another option other than hiring is using a virtual assistant - there are many all over the country as well as in Wales. This will save you overheads as well as PAYE, NI etc. and normally you can hire by the hour or pay a monthly retainer dependng on your requirements.

Regards

 

[YODspica]

you can try the single investment fund from WAG, although the most they can provide is about 20% of costs.

 

[Diesel]

Thanks for the replies - very useful.

D

 

[Steve Thornbury]

Business in Focus & Venture Wales have various forms of 'assistance', no money to help with costs though, although I am given to understand the rules will be changing (Again) soon......

 

[MarkTaylor1968]

This is a really good resource for business funding...

http://www.sie.ac.uk/resources_businesslinks.aspx

You'll need to put in some legwork but there are a lot of funds out there.

Good luck!

Mark.

 

[arekestall]

Hi,

I work for Venture Wales. In response to your question, the support we can offer is as follows;

• Free business consultancy and advice for people looking to start businesses; from specialists from a variety of backgrounds, including Marketing, Finance, HR and general business advice
• GSS Bursary of £450 a month for starting up a new business in Wales as a graduate of the last 5 years, subject to eligibility
• The latest information on grants and funding available
• Excellent links with providers of private finance
• Free consultancy projects for existing businesses

I hope this is of some help to you. Anyone who is interested in any of this get in touch with me on 01792 701199 or PM me!

Regards,

Arek Estall
Venture Wales
Business Information and Marketing Officer
t: 01792 701199

 

[Diesel]

Thanks Arek, but I actually called them yesterday as the business is really taking off, and I really need help and advice. They said they couldn't help me as their funding is gone and im only a startup...

'Dissapointed' is the polite word...

D

 

[OldWelshGuy]

Diesel ther is money available in Wales for professional services and all sorts, you need to ask the right questions of the right people.

Drop me a PM let me know what you do, where you are based etc. and what you would like (in an ideal world) the money for.

I am off to my bed now, but will read and reply in the morning before ballet (my daughters )

 

[Diesel]

Thanks mate - its more about advice than cash. I'm solvent and dont want any debt. More after the ballet

 

[Wishes4u]

Hello,

You should contact Flexible Support for Business based in Cardiff.

Their website is www(dot)business-support-wales(dot)gov(dot)uk, hope that helps

Another option other than hiring is using a virtual assistant - there are many all over the country as well as in Wales. This will save you overheads as well as PAYE, NI etc. and normally you can hire by the hour or pay a monthly retainer dependng on your requirements.

Regards

Thanks for the link