External links

Link categories

• Useful links for business support & advice
• Useful links for grants, loans and funding
• Useful links for innovation
• Useful links for young people and business

Business support & advice

Business in the Community
Business in the Community is an independent business led charity that was set up in 1982. This website also gives information on networking opportunities for members, training information, awards, case studies, news items and how businesses can promote themselves.

Cobweb
Independent organisation that finds and publishes practical information to help you start up and run a small business, including information to help you write a business plan and reports and guides to help research business ideas.

East of England Development Agency (EEDA)
Government-funded organisation sponsored by the Department of Trade and Industry. This site gives information on job opportunities, business support, investing in communities projects and regional renaissance.

East of England International
The official international business support agency for the East of England. They support companies in the UK doing business internationally and overseas organisations seeking to locate in the UK.

Eastern Region Food Initiative (ERfi)
ERfi support the food and drinks industry by promoting the sector as a career choice for young people, as well as providing training and development programmes for people who already work in the industry.

Enterprising Women
This project aims to give free support and training programmes for women entrepreneurs whether they are considering starting up a business or already in an existing business.

e-start email courses
Free e-mail crash course for people who want to start up a business or for those already trading. Topics include researching your market; choosing your premises, protecting your ideas, grants and cash to get started.

Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)
The FSB exists to promote and protect the interests of the self-employed and owners of small firms.

Hethel Engineering Centre
The Centre supports the growth and success of high performance engineering and manufacturing companies and individuals. Its website gives information on the centre including the courses it provides, availability of offices and workshops, conference facilities and forthcoming training and events.

Nextstep Norfolk
Works with other organisations to provide a free, impartial, easily accessible service to adults on issues associated with learning or work, including training, how to improve your confidence and self esteem and help with CVs, application forms and letters.

Norfolk Network
Norfolk Network is a members club for entrepreneurs, scientists and existing businesses in Norfolk. The network provides information to help develop businesses including forthcoming events, training programmes and financial information.

Norfolk Major Incident Team (NORMIT)
Partnership between public organisations and private companies which focus on developing an approach to deal with major incidents such as fire, flood and plane crashes.

Norwich Research Park, Colney (NRP)
This site provides information about the scientific and IT research at NRP and job vaccancies. It also details the business development and  investment opportunities available in terms of land and accommodation for new partners looking to join the NRP.

Shaping Norfolk's Future
This is a partnership that was formed in 1997, bringing together private, public and voluntary sectors to improve the performance of the Norfolk economy.

UK National Europass Centre (UKNEC)
The UKNEC website provides information to help individuals and organisations who are looking for a job, education or training programmes in another European state and businesses looking for employees from other European states.

Women in Rural Enterprise (WiRE)
WiRE is a national business club for rural women who are considering starting a new business or who are in an established business. The membership package offers practical and specific business services and support in the form of an interactive website, quarterly magazine, networking opportunities, a monthly newsletter and events.

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Grants, loans & funding

Foundation East
Foundation East operates across Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex. They lend money to new businesses, existing businesses and social enterprises that can’t get a loan from a bank or need additional funds to match bank lending.

Prime
PRIME is a not-for-profit organisation. It was set up in 2001 with the primary aim of enabling people over the age of 50 to successfully set themselves up in business. It achieves this through advice, support and loans. 

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Innovation

i10
i10 helps companies in the East of England grow by working with academic teams from some of the country's top universities and higher educational colleges to solve business problems.

ip21
This site gives information on what intellectual property is, the services provided by ip21 plus latest news items.

NESTA (National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts)
NESTA is working to increase the UK's capacity for innovation. Their website gives details of case studies, news and award programmes which support innovators.

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Young people & business

Connexions
Connexions is a website for 13-19 year olds which gives advice on learning and careers, including the skills required for learning and where to study.

New Wave
New wave is part of the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce and Industry. It is a personal development and networking group for people between the ages of 18-35 who are decision-makers with specialist skills e.g. public relations, marketing, people management.

Norfolk Exchange
The Exchange helps to strengthen links between education and business across the country. They achieve this by helping youngsters with work experience and in-school business-based activities.

ProTrain
This organisation works with schools throughout Norfolk to promote engineering. The website gives information on their work, current and past events and contact details.

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About links to other websites.