Business Support
Economic Development Team
Harborough District Councils Economic Development team is the first line of business support locally. You can arrange a one-to-one meeting with our Economic Development Team to discuss your business needs and find out how we can support you. We can provide you with a range of advice including identifying local suppliers, finding local property, exploring funding opportunities, identifying local business networks, and we can refer you to work with a fully funded business adviser.
Leicestershire Business Advice Service
The Leicestershire Business Advice Service is a fully-funded programme available to entrepreneurs and business owners in Leicestershire. It provides those running or looking to start a business with expert advice and workshops, tailored to your current business stage. Workshops cover key business themes including; regulation & tax, marketing research, marketing and money management.
Your business may also be eligible to benefit from the guidance and support of our experienced advisory team, as well as the ability to signpost you to other local and national organisations who can help your business or business idea. To find out more or get in touch, visit the programme website lbas.online
The Leicestershire Business Advice Service is delivered by business support experts Exemplas. It is funded by the UK Government via the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), through the district councils of Harborough, Blaby, Hinkley & Bosworth, Melton, North West Leicestershire and Oadby & Wigston.
East Midlands Chamber
The Chamber is the leading business organisation in the East Midlands. With a growing membership of more than 4,000 businesses and 3,000 affiliates, it is the second largest chamber of commerce in the country.
The Chamber offers Members extensive networking opportunities and a wide range of discounted services. The Chamber also works in partnership with many communities, political and funding organisations.
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)
The FSB are experts in business, offer members a wide range of vital business services including advice, financial expertise, support and powerful voice in government. The FSB mission is to help smaller businesses achieve their ambitions.
Prince’s Trust
Prince’s Trust work with 18 to 30-year-olds living in the UK to turn big ideas into a reality.
Got a business in mind or want to explore an idea? From training and mentoring support to funding and resources, we’re here to help you become the best entrepreneur you can be. Our free Enterprise programme takes place in a centre near you and is broken down into three stages. If you’d prefer to learn flexibly with online mentor support, sign up to Enterprise Online.
View more on Support for starting a business.
The British Business Bank
The British Business Bank Hub is designed to help businesses understand the financial landscape and ultimately access the right finance for their growth potential. It’s an independent, impartial digital hub designed to raise awareness of the different types of finance available for growing UK businesses. Explore finance options and find funding to suit your business.
Find out more about British Business Bank.
Made Smarter Programme
This funded programme aims to grow manufacturing through digital technologies, innovation and skills. Digital technology advisers will work with you to understand your organisation’s biggest challenges and identify growth opportunities. Their approach is to give you practical steps and technology solutions that are tailored to your particular requirements.
Leicester Employment Hub
The Hub undertakes a range of activities to drive up demand for the full range of national and local employment and training opportunities. It works directly with local businesses (especially SMEs) to increase demand for:
- Apprenticeships
- Traineeships
- Work experience
- Internships
- Volunteering
- Work placements opportunities
The project also adds capacity to and complements the work of the Education Skills Funding Agency and local apprenticeship training providers.
Find out about our partner organisations
LLEP Business Gateway
The LLEP Business Gateway (Growth Hub) acts as a signposting service across a wide range of topics including: Business start-up training and mentoring; Business growth and expansion plans, recruitment and investing; access to finance, including local and national grants and loans programmes, premises and search for new commercial property, recruitment and workforce skills/training, regulation and compliance.
Leicester & Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership
The Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) was formed in May 2011. The LLEP is a strategic body led by a Board made up of local government and business leaders as well as senior education and third sector representatives.
The LLEP’s remit is to drive forward regeneration and growth of the local economy, by:
Active Together
Active Together offer a range of support to clubs, community groups, businesses, sole traders, charities and limited companies in the sector.
