Useful Links for Entrepreneurship and Business Start-up

Entrepreneurship and Business Start-up includes a whole spectrum of activities - from freelancing and self-employment as a sole trader to founding a small business and preparing to become an employer yourself. The following links supplement the support we provide through Basecamp and Spark.

General sources of information

• BusinessLink is the national advice website for running a business with some excellent resources for start-ups.
• Starting a Business is a website provided by HM Revenue and Customs giving guidance on starting a business and registering as self-employed.
• The National Council for Entrepreneurship in Education provides advice and guidance to student entrepreneurs through its Flying Start and Make it Happen programmes.
• StartUP Britain is a national initiative promoting business start-ups.
• Shell Livewire is a national scheme supporting youth entrepreneurship with advice, prizes and events.
• Startups provides information on all aspects of starting and running a business.
• Lloyds TSB business guides are a series of guides to specific aspects of running your own business.

Local sources of information and advice

• Basecamp is run by the University of Bristol to provide advice, professional support, events, mentoring, seed-funding, desk-space, and networking opportunities to student entrepreneurs.
• BRAVE is a Bristol-based not-for-profit organisation which runs regular free seminars on aspects of starting your own business.

Information and Support for Social Enterprise

• Social Enterprise Works is a Bristol-based organisation which supports small social enterprises.
• UnLtd is a national charity funding socially enterprising individuals.
• ClearlySo is an online marketplace for social business, social enterprise and social investment.