Further resources
Quick links to sub topics
Apex
Trust helps promote employment
opportunities for ex-offenders
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| Balancing
Business delivers professional,
practical and individual business support
services to entrepreneurs and existing
businesses. They also help businesses
to re-focus their business activity resulting
in increased profitability. PO Box, 13442, Redditch, B97 9DY Tel: 0121 288 2466 or 0121 288 2640 email: info@balancingbusiness.co.uk web: www.balancingbusiness.co.uk |
| Banks – Every major high street bank has a wealth of information available free of charge to help you start a business, including business plan templates or information on different market sectors. You do not have to have an account to access this information. The local library will have a list of banks in your area. |
Business
Link is the government’s
support service for small and medium-sized
businesses. It has a comprehensive website
with free information on most things
to do with starting and running a business,
a telephone helpline and a search facility
to help you find a Business Link group
local to you.
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| Citizens
Advice provides free advice to
help people resolve legal, financial
and other problems. It has a network
of branches in 3,000 locations, a website
and in some areas provides training courses
covering subjects such as financial skills. Your local library or phone book will have details of the nearest Citizens Advice Bureau. web: www.adviceguide.org.uk |
| The
Community Development Finance Institution is
a sustainable, independent financial
institutions that provides capital and
support to enable individuals or organisations
to develop and create wealth in disadvantaged
communities or under-served markets. Room 101, Hatton Square Business Centre, 16/16a Baldwins Gardens, London, EC1N 7RJ Tel: 020 7430 0222 email: info@cdfa.org.uk web: www.cdfa.org.uk |
Connexions
(Career Service) Connexions Direct
can offer 16–19-year-olds information
and advice needed to make decisions and
life choices. Connexions Direct is open
from 8 a.m. until 2 a.m. every day –
calls from mobiles are not free.
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Directgov is
the government’s website giving detailed
information on public services. It covers
everything from benefits, paying tax and
education to health and rights and responsibilities.
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| The
Health and Safety Commission is
responsible for health and safety regulation
in the UK. Its website can give you more
information on health and safety and
it runs an information line. Infoline: 0845 345 0055 web: www.hse.gov.uk |
Her
Majesty’s Revenue &
Customs (HMRC) is the government department
that deals with tax and National Insurance and
that used to be called the Inland Revenue. You
need to register with HMRC when you become selfemployed
and deal with it regularly when paying tax.
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Information
Commissioner’s Office If
you keep information on people, such
as their names and addresses or other
personal information, the law states
that you have to look after this information.
The Information Commissioner’s
Office can give you information and help
you stay on the right side of the law.
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Jobcentre
Plus is a government agency supporting
people of working age get jobs and move
from benefits into work.
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| Careers
Advice provides career information
and training courses and can provide
guidance on becoming self-employed. There
is an area specifically for ex-offenders
and also for business – both are
worth exploring. Business web: careersadvice.direct.gov.uk Tel: 0800 101 901 You can also email them and request a call back from their online service. |
| Let’s
Talk About Money Let’s Talk
About Money is a website providing financial
information for offenders, exoffenders
and their families. web: www.letstalkaboutmoney.org.uk |
Livewire Shell
LiveWIRE has over 25 years’ experience
encouraging young people (16–30 years)
to start and develop their own business.
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Money
Matters to Me A website with lots
of information on managing personal finances
and the basics on everything like bank
accounts, tax and insurance. It can also
help you do things like learn to use
a cash machine, write a cheque, read
meters or understand bills.
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| NACRO provide
a helpline service, which includes employment
issues. However, they do not provide detailed
self-employment advice.What they will provide
is general advice and signposting to local
agencies who may be able to help with business
start-ups. Freephone: 0800 0181 259 email: helpline@nacro.org.uk web: www.nacro.org.uk |
| National
Federation of Enterprise Agencies has
a network of independent local enterprise
Agencies, not for profit local agencies
committed to responding to the needs
of small and growing businesses by providing
a comprehensive range of quality services.
In particular they target pre-start,
start-up and micro businesses, helping
to develop their ability to start and
sustain themselves and to encourage growth
and stability. Tel: 01234 831623 email: enquiries@nfea.com web: www.nfea.com/ |
| National
Insurance Self-employment Contact Centre: Tel: 08459 15 46 55 web: www.hmrc.gov.uk/nic/ |
New Deal is a programme that gives people on benefits the help and support they need to look for work, including becoming self-employed. It also provides training, advice and mentoring. For more information, contact your local Jobcentre Plus (see above for details). Ask about the InBlz self-employed provision.
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| The
Prince’s Initiative for Mature
Enterprise (PRIME) is a not-for-profit
national organisation dedicated to helping
people over 50 set up in business. Freephone helpline: 0800 783 1904 43 |
The
Prince’s Trust is the UK’s
leading youth charity. It gives practical
and financial support, developing key
workplace skills such as confidence and
motivation. It works with 14 to 30 year
olds who have struggled at school, have
been in care, are long-term unemployed
or have been in trouble with the law.
Through its range of personal development
and financial support programmes The
Prince’s Trust helps young people
to overcome their problems and get their
lives back on track.
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Resources
for newly self-employed
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| SOVA is
a national organisation that works with
offenders, exoffenders and their families. web: www.sova.org.uk/ |
Start-up is
a programme offering ex-offenders and those
about to be released from prison the opportunity
to become self-employed.
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UNLOCK
(The national Association of Reformed
Offenders) supports exoffenders
and serving prisoners to overcome social
and financial exclusion. It can help
with information on subjects such as
insurance and banking.
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WiRE
(Women in Rural Enterprise) is
a UK-wide networking and business membership
club aimed at helping women in rural
areas start and maintain their own rural
enterprise.WiRE also offers services
such as training, mentoring, online information,
conferences and loans.
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