Schemes to help start-ups in the East Midlands

Includes offers for e-courses on Health & Safety, Business Law, Computers & Software, Management & People Skills and Business Processes & Skills

PRIME (Prince's Initiative for Mature Enterprise) is a registered charity that helps over 50s to set up their own business for themselves.

PRIME believes than Working Tax Credits (a kind of reverse income tax) may be of help to many people over 50 who want to start their own business as special rules apply. in association with HM Revenue and Customs, it has produced a guide for those seeking to start a business.

New Business New Life is an emda initiative delivered through Business Link. The website contains all the information you need if you are looking at starting your own business. Visit their website for more information

Site produced in association with the National Federation of Enterprises Agencies.

Advice, registration, food safety, etc.

As a business you make your own success but government could help to overcome some barriers. Each year the DTI invests £0.5 billion assisting you through grants, loan guarantees and subsidised consultancy.

This website provides the public, researchers, the media, and policy makers with information about who we are and what we are doing.

If you're thinking of working for yourself or have just started, why not arrange a free appointment with someone from the Business Support teams? They can give you practical advice on the tax matters that will affect you: record-keeping, filling in and filing your tax return - and what to do if you take someone on.

mybusinessrates.gov.uk is a Government-funded site, designed to provide businesses with a single source of clear and concise information on business rates

Includes information on National Insurance, Income Tax, disabled people and employment, training and work based learning and the New Deal 50+

BizFizz provides free, confidential and professional advice to local entrepreneurs. It works by employing a BizFizz Coach who provides tailored one-to-one support to individuals who want to start or grow their business establishing a Local Panel of people whose background, expertise and local know-how bring a second tier of support to BizFizz clients. The panel can include community activists, head teachers, faith group leaders, councillors, and local business people

This Business Link site provides information and advice about taking on a franchise

Are you aged 18-30, unemployed, have an idea for a business but can't raise all the cash you need from anywhere else? If you are the Prince's Trust could help you get up and running