Business Support

Young People

Are you 18 - 30 unemployed, have an idea for business but unable to raise all the cash you need from anywhere else?  Princes Trust could help you get up and running:
- with start-up support from the Princes Trust, you could get:
- loan
- grant
- test marketing grant £250

If you are:
- between 18 - 30
- unemployed or work less than 16 hours per week
- not been able to get funding from any other source

For further information contact:

The Prince's Trust
West Midlands Regional Office
Lye Business Centre
Enterprise Drive
Hayes Lane
Lye
Stourbridge
West Midlands DY9 8QH

www.princes-trust.org.uk

Young Enterprise - is a national education charity that helps more 100,000 young of all ages gain an introduction to enterprise. 

Contact the regional office on 01926 406126 or write: Young Enterprise West Midlands, Longbridge Office, Stratford Road, Warwick, Warwickshire CV34 6QW. Further information about the programmes can be obtained by visiting www.young-enterprise.org.uk

Women in Business

Women in Rural Enterprise (WiRE)

WiRE was founded in 2000 by a lecturer at Harper Adams University College in Shropshire, who conducted research which identified that falling farm incomes resulted in the female partners on farms diversifying and developing their own business.  Some barriers that women faced included lack of access to finance, lack of confidence, not being taken seriously, rural isolation, and lack of rural business support.  WiRE was launched in order to help break down those barriers.
WiRE is a dynamic networking and business club which aims to help rural women in every way possible towards starting and maintaining their own rural rural enterprise.

Regular networking events and seminars are held in different regions of the Country and information is made available to members via newsletters and the website.
Shropshire Network Officer is Sarah Franklin
Sarah@wireuk.org
01952 815319

Prowess

"Prowess is the UK wide advocacy association which supports the growth of women's business ownership through the development of an effective women-friendly business support infrastructure and enterprise culture
Prowess also:

• Lobbies to create a policy environment and opportunities which support the development of women's enterprise
• Provides capacity building support and training
• Creates opportunities to share best practice and learn about new approaches
• Promotes and raises awareness of women's enterprise and the organisations that support this key area of economic growth
• Puts women in touch with women-friendly business support"
  Source: show us your money report 2004
  For further information
  www.prowess.org.uk
  email: admin@prowess.org.uk
  Telephone: 01603 762355

Business support organisations

Shrewsbury Business Chamber

"Shrewsbury Business Chamber is an important voice for commerce and all kinds of business.
We inform and consult members on all aspects of business in Shrewsbury.
We liaise with Shrewsbury & Atcham Borough Council and Shropshire County Council on key business issues.
We provide lobbying and representation expertise, by an experienced Policy Executive.
Members receive a Chamber Newsletter, invitations to social and networking events, and have the benefit of inter-trading and network opportunities.
Membership is open to all bona-fide businesses, irrespective of size, with premises in Shrewsbury and the surrounding area (Applications will be considered from outside this area, subject to certain conditions, by the Executive Committee)" source: www.shrewsburybusiness.com
For further information contact the secretary on 01939 236000

Federation of Small Business (FSB)

"The Federation of Small Business (FSB) is the largest direct member business organisation in the UK, with over 185,000 members representing 1.25 million people.  It exists to promote and protect the interests of the self employed and owners of small firms"
source: FSB website

For further information including contact details visit www.fsb.org.uk

Business in the Community

The overall aim of Business in the Community is to involve and inspire businesses to become involved in economic and social regeneration countrywide.
For further information visit www.bitc.org.uk