Becoming Self-Employed
Have you considered becoming self-employed? Maybe you have already started but need support with the next steps? Check out the resources below and get in touch with the Economic Development team.
Economic Development Team
Harborough District Council’s Economic Development team can help you when you are setting up your new business. Get in touch with us today.
We can support you with:
- other council services such as licensing and planning
- finding suitable premises for your business
- accessing free support from other partners
- applying for grants
- social media and marketing
- accessing free business support webinars and events
- and more!
Harborough Market
Harborough Indoor Market continues an 800-year-old tradition of market trading in the heart of Market Harborough. The market is a great place to start and grow your business.
They operate a new starter discount scheme for pop up stall daily traders. Trade for 6 consecutive weeks and get 6 weeks FREE or if you are local crafter you can trade for only £12.50!
Harborough Innovation Centre
Harborough Innovation Centre, (HIC), established in 2010, is a vibrant, eco-friendly hub providing flexible office space with bespoke business support from a dedicated business advisor, for new and thriving small, to medium enterprises. Situated in Market Harborough; a beautiful town in rural England, south Leicestershire, the HIC enjoys close proximity to a town centre boasting an array of independent shops, boutiques alongside high street brands, as well as delicious restaurants and bistros across the Harborough district.
Harborough Grow-on Centre
Harborough Grow-on Centre is a brand-new energy efficient, high specification office building designed for dynamic and growing small and medium-sized businesses, located in an expanding commercial area just on the south side of Market Harborough town.
It has excellent access to major road and rail links, with the A6 and A14 nearby and trains to London St Pancras International taking just under an hour from Market Harborough Station.
Harborough Grow-on Centre has been built to high environmental standards by Harborough District Council, with additional funding from the European Regional Development Fund and the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership.
The centre works in tandem with the Harborough Innovation Centre, which offers flexible co-working and offices for start-ups, to provide a range of business space and support for companies to grow and enjoy the benefits of Harborough District as a place to do business.
This is the perfect place to base your company.
Princes Trust: Enterprise
The Princes Trust has helped over 86,000 young people to start their own business – and you could be next. They work with 18 to 30-year-olds living in the UK to turn big ideas into a reality.
What’s involved in Enterprise?
NBV
NBV can help you with start-up support and business grants.
The NBV Starting In Business Programme
From bookkeepers and beauticians to cupcake bakers and care agencies, whatever business you dream of starting the NBV can help! Transform your idea into a business with the help and support of the great package of training and funding. On this programme, you’ll get to meet other like-minded people and benefit from the expertise of a company with over 30 years’ experience in helping people start businesses. NBV will be on hand to provide you with advice every step of the way.
This is a three day workshop lead by an experienced business trainer who will teach you the nuts and bolts of starting and running a successful business, and help you to develop your own business plan.
Looking for help to start your business?
The NBV Grant for New Business supports start-up businesses based in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Greater Lincolnshire. Grants of between £1000 and £2500 are available. This is for a maximum of 25% of eligible costs. Thus, in order to access the business grant, the minimum project spend is £4000.
Business Growth Hub
The Growth Hub is a one-stop-shop for business support across Leicester and Leicestershire. They offer no-cost and impartial advice to local businesses of any size, with a particular focus on supporting them to grow and increase productivity. You can arrange a 1-2-1 business support meeting with a specialist business advisor. They also offer an extensive range of business support webinars and events – check out the calendar of events here.
