Small Business

Local businesses can take advantage of a variety of networks to get advice, training and information. Contact details of useful organisations are listed below:

Stevenage Business Initiative
Free practical help on starting up your own business. Our team of experienced business advisors will provide practical and confidential advice on: developing a business idea, finance, legal issues, marketing, insurance, taxation, premises etc.

Tel: 01438 315733
Fax: 01438 310001
Email: info@sbi-herts.co.uk
Web: www.sbi-herts.co.uk

The Hertfordshire Business Incubation Centre
A modern site for new businesses, with 77 offices, 22 workshop units and two conference rooms. Secretarial and office services are provided and the new business incubation project fast-tracks new firms with a high growth potential.
Tel: 01438 310047
Fax: 01438 791081
Email: info@hertsbic.co.uk
Web: www.hertsbic.co.uk

Business Link Hertfordshire
Part of a national network of business centres, supporting local businesses with comprehensive help and information. Business Link will develop practical and value for money solutions with the best mix of information, advice, support and development services to meet the specific needs of individual businesses.

Tel: 01727 813813
Fax: 01727 813404
Email: info@mybusinesslink.co.uk
Web: www.mybusinesslink.co.uk

Grantfinder
Run by Stevenage Borough Council, Grantfinder is a grant finding database which has access to over 3000 sources of funding.

Tel: 01438 242822
Fax: 04138 242922
Email: john.pye@stevenage.gov.uk

For Business Excellence (4BEX)
4BEX is a European funded initiative that provides business training, counselling and advice to owners and employees of independent businesses. Anybody who works for or owns a business with fewer than 50 employees in Stevenage is welcome to attend any 4BEX event.
Tel: 01442 867818
Web: www.4bex.org

Incredit
Incredit has evolved from Enterprising Communities and exists to promote and support enterprise development amongst disadvantaged communities through training workshops, support services and access to micro-credit through a revolving loan fund. Their target groups are women, young people aged 16-30, members of BME communities and social enterprises.
Tel: 01438 794444
Fax: 01438 358039
Email: Sue.Lawton@incredit.org.uk
Web: www.incredit.org.uk

Employers for the Environment (E4E)
E4E has won funding from Europe under the Interreg IIIB Encourage Initiative which has allowed the appointment of a project manager to oversee and manage the E4E programme. The aim of the project is to lower the environmental impact of business through waste minimisation, energy usage reduction, water savings and transport solutions.

E4E is predominantly an advisory body finding cost effective solutions for environmental issues. The project has facilitated a free waste paper recycling for small and medium business. There are now nearly 50 companies in this scheme.  E4E will be launching a materials exchange website for Hertfordshire business later this year. This will be another free service that enables business to divert their waste from landfill.

E4E Open forums are regular events where a specific environmental theme is presented. The June open forum will have energy conservation as its theme.

The Steering group members are ABB, Intrinsica, GSK, SBC, HCC, Fujitsu, and the Herts Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

For more information on the project, please contact Richard Turner, E4E Project Manager, on 01438 242994 or email richard.turner@stevenage.gov.uk.