All Saints, Blakenhall & Parkfield Business Community
If you are considering starting your own business, there are local resources that are available to help you. By taking advantage of these your business is more likely to survive and prosper, and you are more likely to avoid the costly mistakes which are common to new business ventures.
ABCD has it's own Business Development Team, which can offer expertise to ABCD residents who are considering setting up a new business in the area. It also offers help to non-ABCD residents who are looking to locate a new business venture within the area. The Team can signpost areas of financial support, and provide help with Business Planning.
The service is free and confidential. To make contact please ring the Team on 01902 556164 or email.
Additionally, assistance is available from the Business Advisors of the Black Country Business Link, who have a local office at Wolverhampton Science Park, Stafford Road. The Link can from time to time offer financial support schemes for some types of business, such as the Mustard scheme or Regeneration Zone funding. It also offers a well-established and popular business training programme, which currently runs for 2 evenings per week over 3 weeks. The local Advisors can be contacted on 0845 113 1234.
The national Business Link website contains comprehensive information about starting a business.
Support for younger applicants is available from Prince's Trust, who can provide business advice; low-cost loans, and grants in some cases. See Local Grant Schemes Page - Access to Finance. Local contact is via 01384 892100. They have an office in Wolverhampton on Newhampton Road.
Short courses on keeping accounts are available from H.R. Revenue & Customs on 0845 366 7815. These are free to the public.
A useful source of business information for market research is Wolverhampton Central Library (01902 552025) who have their own business resource section.
If you are setting up a Social Enterprise you may wish to consider doing so as a Community Interest Company (CIC). Full details of the benefits and regulation of these companies can be found on the website.
If you are looking to sell products to a large audience it may be worth considering selling on an auction site such as ebay. Further information can be found at the website.
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