Starting and Developing your Business

Starting a Business

A decision to start your own business is likely to be one of the most important you will ever make and can also seem like one of the most daunting. There are however, plenty of organisations, willing to provide help and support to anyone wishing to turn a good idea into a sound business. So maybe your passionate hobby really can become your full-time job!

Workforce Training|

How work-based learning programmes can help you get a qualification or develop new skills.

Surrey Future Jobs Fund

Helping create job opportunities for young people

Surrey Future Jobs Fund is a partnership initiative designed to help Surrey's young people by granting money to eligible organisations that can create entry-level jobs for unemployed young people.

The fund is for the creation of 350 entry level jobs until March 2011. A grant of £4,411 would be provided to cover a basic wage and a contribution to other costs.

|Read more with Surrey County Council - Surrey Future Jobs Fund

Local Demographics

|Facts and figures about Surrey are available from Surrey County Council.

Business Structure

Once you have decided on your business idea, you will then need to decide on what sort of business you want to run. You could start up on your own as a sole trader, go into partnership with someone else or maybe you will form a limited company.

More information about the differently types of business structure and the pros and cons of each is explained on the |Startups website.

Growing your Business

Surrey County Council together with a number of partner agencies provide advice on how to develop your business. So whether you're looking for information about finance, people, product development, sales, marketing or buying / selling a business, be sure to visit their website:
|Surrey County Council - developing your business

Business Rates

|Information about national non-domestic rates. Use our online forms to inform us if you have moved premises or if you wish to make a business rate enquiry.

Business Continuity Management

Business continuity management is a process that helps manage the risks involved in the smooth running of an organisation or delivery of a service in both the private and public sector. Further information on business continuity management is available on our |business continuity webpage.

|Find out about protecting your business from flooding.

Company Travel Plans

Having a company travel plan will enable you to make your operations more efficient, meet the travel needs of your staff and manage the impact of your business on the environment. |Find out more about company travel plans with Surrey County Council. |Further information on business travel, parking and accommodation

Health and Safety at Work

|All the information you need to know to keep your employees safe at work

Healthy at Work

|Get advice on alternative ways to travel to work, healthy eating, seasonal flu and much more

London Olympics 2012 Opportunities

|Advice on business opportunities

Support your Staff with Childcare

Increasing amounts of legislation and changes in the attitude of the workforce have led to a greater need for flexible employment and benefit packages. |Surrey County Council outlines some of the childcare benefits available to employees.

Find out more

The following links to external organisations provide further information about starting and developing a business:

|Property Planning advice for business
| j4bgrants - business grants
||Business in the community
|Business Link start up advice
|South East England Development Agency
|Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
|National statistics
|Small business forums
|Trading Standards
|Homes and Communities Agency - national and regeneration agency