Startup News
The StartUp Loans fund – New Entrepreneurs Loans
More than 1200 applications have now been received for the StartUp Entrepreneurs Loan fund aimed at those aged between 18 and 24, headed up James Caan’s new company, known for his former business dealings in BBC’s Dragon’s Den series.
The first wave of cash from the £82.5 million Start-Up Loans scheme is now being distributed hoping to help launch up to 30,000 new companies. Read more > StartUp Loans
Vital to support the next young business generation; the Start-Up Loans fund will provide £2,500 to young entrepreneurs, those aged between 18 -24 year olds who submit a successful application. All applicants will be provided with help from a mentor and to prepare their business plan. This new scheme will provide financial support and valuable advice to young people in their new business venture with the aim to kickstart new businesses. More information is available. Read more >StartUp Britain
StartUp Awards
Brighton & Hove Businesses report a rise of more than 16% of business startups compared to first half 2011*, so there’s no better time for small business owners who started trading in the last three years to see their successes recognised at the annual Startups Awards – which is now open for registration.
Last year saw the fashion company The Cambridge Satchel Company win the overall award – hosted by mybusiness’ sister site Startups.co.uk, the Startups Awards, which are now in their ninth year, boast more than a dozen categories: including home-based business of the year and online business of the year.
This year also sees the reintroduction of the Silver Fox category – recognising the start-up efforts of an older entrepreneur – and the Adversity award, for business owners who have achieved success against the odds.
For more information or to register for an application form, visit the Startups Awards page. www.startups.co.uk The deadline for entries is 14 September 2012.
* Source www.duport.co.uk
877 companies formed in the geographical area of Brighton & Hove January – June inclusive 2011
982 companies formed in the geographical area of Brighton & Hove January -June inclusive 2012
StartUp High Street – Britain gets PopUp Shops
StartUp High Street was created to give new British brands the opportunity of a lifetime – to get products onto the High Street.
With the support of prominent retail entrepreneurs including Sir Charles Dunstone, Luke Johnson and Mary Portas and Richmond MP, Zac Goldsmith; Enterprise Adviser to the PM, Lord Young; StartUp Britain hopes this new concept will help invigorate the High Street and give hundreds of start-up businesses a sporting chance.
Read more about proposed de-regulation by government of high street sites with new Mary Portas guide launched > Brighton & Hove Business
Government buildings to become spaces for StartUp businesses.
20 empty Government buildings will be the first to come on stream after the announcement earlier in the year that empty govermnet space would be made available.
18 locations across England have been identified as having the potential to be used by aspiring entrepreneurs to build and grow their businesses.
The Government is now inviting incubation and business start-up organisations, which help new and existing small businesses, to manage and allocate these spaces. These organisations will also provide businesses moving into the space with valuable support and advice.
StartUp Britain Local
StartUp Britain launched during late March 2011 online and by selected city roadshows during the summer, coupled with expo visits across London and the North. StartUp Local is a new initiative that will allow enthusiastic and experienced volunteers across the nation to register as a Local Champion and shine a spotlight on the events, resources and activities that benefit startups and growing businesses in their area. StartUp Local campaigns have the potential to make a real and tangible difference to their local community. Want to become involved? Read more > Applications to become a Local Champion are now open
2012 Startup Campaign
The new 2012 start up business drive launched mid-January by The PM David Cameron.
“There’s a business in everyone – What’s the business in you?”
2011 saw more than a 20% increase in new business startups recorded, year-on-year, and the new 2012 launch campaign is set to increase further on the 470,000 or more recorded businesses 2011.
The Olympic year of 2012 is a unique moment for Great Britain globally as is for the business community. The ‘Business In You’ campaign is aimed as a partnership between private enterprise and Government to highlight support for start-ups and growing businesses and encourage entrepreneurial spirit in 2012.
The campaign helps make new business ideas happen. Whether looking to test ideas, or develop financial and planning skills, it’s aimed to give support and inspiration that new startups are looking for by using successful, real-life examples. It also provides links to key business support tools, highlighting top tools available from BusinessLink, StartUp Britain and a whole range of partners. Read more > Business In You
Business Startups 2011
The number of businesses launched in Britain this year is almost 20% higher than in 2010, according to a new report from Creditsafe.
The report finds that overall growth in the UK business population has actually accelerated in 2011
Business Startups 2010
Recent news from the government shows 48,000* new UK business start-ups in 2010 coupled with a falling business failure rate. The number of UK start-ups is growing despite business concerns over funding for small businesses.
*The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills’ (BIS) Business Population Estimates report in May 2011 found new businesses increased by 48,000 last year.
The latest figures estimate
- 4.5 million UK private sector enterprises
- employing 22.5 million people
- turning over a combined £3,200bn
- sole traders make up nearly 65% of private sector businesses
- over a quarter are registered companies
- nearly 10% are partnerships.
Small and medium-sized businesses (those with fewer than 250 employees) account for 99.9% of all private sector enterprises.These employ 59% of the private sector workforce.
Online Business Startups
Starting an online business can be as simple as setting up a basic shop on eBay to sell a few wholesale items, to coming up with a completely new online concept with a novel way of monetising it.The beauty of the online business is that it’s suited to just about anyone. You don’t need to be an MBA graduate based in London to succeed. You can start your operation from anywhere, as long as you’ve got access to an internet connection and a bit of business acumen.Internet companies can take many forms but StartUps can walk you through the basic principles. Read more > Startups
Safety Online for StartUps
Around six per cent of the UK’s GDP is generated by the internet and is set to rise substantially – new initiatives being undertaken to protect businesses from the rise in cybercrime – has your business been attacked?With the growing use of the internet, BIS – The Department for Business Innovation and Skills supports a special ‘Get Safe Online Week’ each year. This is a special week that highlights some of the issues surrounding cyber attacks which helps maximise security skills expecially to help prevent identity fraud and computer infection.
There’s online videos, step-by-step guides and general information. Follow the campaign on twitter: @GetSafeOnlineThe Get Safe Online campaign is a joint public/private sector campaign to raise awareness of online security. It provides advice on online shopping, social networking sites, data theft and identity theft. Been a victim? Get Safe Online would like to hear from you – your examples could contribute to the awareness campaign. Visit the GSO site to find out more. Read more > Get Safe Online
Latest report > uk-cyber-security-strategy-final
Market Stall StartUps
According to a 2009 report by the Retail Markets Alliance, markets in major cities largely outperformed high street shops during the recession, as people increasingly sought original and inexpensive bargains. The findings of this research revealed that the UK’s retail and wholesale markets sector has an annual turnover of £7.6bn, generated by 47,000 small to medium businesses with almost 100,000 people employed in this sector.About a 20% rise is being seen in new business startups during 2011, with more than 470,000 startups being recorded. Read more > how market stalls are being seen as another great revival of the High Street.
Women in Business Startups
The number of women starting businesses in the UK has risen 12% in the last 12 months where 37% of businesses started during 2011 are by women from from 33% during 2010 according to quotes received by insurance broker Simply Business.The research suggests that Britain’s female entrepreneurs are key to exposing emerging trends. For example, following the popularity of the BBC’s The Great British Bake Off programme, there was a surge in cake businesses.
There has been a 95% increase in the number of women starting-up market businesses since 2009 – perhaps responding to the contemporary popularity of local market produce but clearly heralded by the new Mary Portas review, presented to government this week, as to ways the High Street can develop 2012 and further.The figures, based on the 117,000 quote requests received by Simply Business from start-up firms this year, also found that cleaning, beauty and hairdressing are the three most popular sectors for female entrepreneurs. Market traders, pet minders and cake makers also registered in the top ten trades, along with self-employed caterers, teachers and financial advisers.The study also revealed a sharp rise in several occupations normally reserved for the public sector being education consultancies ( rose 61%) , and independent nursing businesses (rose 46%).
Home Business Startups
The Business link website is a pool of resource for those considering a move into a new business.
There are three questions that should be considered:Is there a gap in the market?
Have you tried to buy something that you just can’t find? In which case, others may be looking for that product too.What is your passion/skill/hobby? Can you find a way of making a living from it?Can you do something better? Have you seen someone offer a product or service that you think you can offer better yourself?The most popular home business ideas in local areas for services are generally, child care, tutoring, translation, editorial services, dog walking and alteration services.Other common home-based businesses include consultants, website designers, arts and craft makers, publishers, caterers, virtual assistants who provide professional assistance to clients from a home officeOne can consider investing in a franchise. The benefits of being a franchisee are that you are your own boss but also have the benefit of working with a central team. There are a growing number of home-based franchise opportunities. Read more > Startup information
Business Plans 
A business plan is a critical document for any start up business.A lack of a business plan has been listed one of the top three reasons a business fails. Any creditable book on owning or running a business ownership states its importance. There are two types of business plan which can be put together. The first is a business plan for a brand new business with the second for an existing business. Read more > ideas to make your next business plan soar
Free eNewsletters 
Free eNewsletters are in abundance online. An essential free tool to helping you progress your business. Read more > sources for small businesses including FREE small business e-newsletter Videos Watch more > Business Link
Videos on whether starting your own business is right for you and other helpful information Uk’s StartUp Business Awards. Read more > Startups Awards
BBC Business radio programmes MoneyBox Money Programme
Every business starts with a conversation. Start yours today. 14-20 November 2011, Global Entrepreneurship Week created a national conversation about entrepreneurship. The campaign reached out to 213,000 participants, through 2,300 events and 914 partner organisations.
Latest data for new businesses springing up in Brighton & Hove 2011. According to new connections data, in the first seven months of 2011 more than 135 new businesses have opened in the city of Brighton & Hove creating a total of 623 jobs.There have been 51 business startups in postcode BN1, 42 in postcode BN2, 31 in postcode BN3 and 10 in postcode BN41 (Portslade) * Source *Thomson Local DataBusiness Startups 2010 Recent news from the government shows 48,000* new UK business start-ups in 2010 coupled with a falling business failure rate. The number of UK start-ups is growing despite business concerns over funding for small businesses.*The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills’ (BIS) Business Population Estimates report in May 2011 found new businesses increased by 48,000 last year.The latest figures estimate
- 4.5 million UK private sector enterprises
- employing 22.5 million people
- turning over a combined £3,200bn
- sole traders make up nearly 65% of private sector businesses
- over a quarter are registered companies
- nearly 10% are partnerships.
Small and medium-sized businesses (those with fewer than 250 employees) account for 99.9% of all private sector enterprises.
These employ 59% of the private sector workforce.
The next Global Entrepreneur Week takes place from 12-18 November 2012
