Where to get support for your smaller business

As a smaller business owner, it can be tricky to know where to turn to for support as your business grows.

After starting your business, you might discover that you need different advice than during the start-up phase.

You could be facing growth challenges that need expert guidance, or you might need help with processes or understanding new regulations.

Growing your business might require more time or access to more funding.

You might also be considering hiring staff or developing new products.

As you scale your business, it’s important to keep your support network strong and seek advice from relevant organisations.

At the start of 2024, there were 5.45 million small businesses in the UK.

Taking advantage of the available support can make a big difference in helping your business not just survive but thrive in a competitive market.

The good news is that there are many places to find tailored support.

Whether you’re looking for a broader peer support network or you’d like to discuss a business innovation with an expert, there are organisations that can help.

Read on to discover just some of the sources of support available for your growing business.

Nationwide organisations

Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)

The FSB is a membership organisation for small businesses and the self-employed.

It offers networking, events, impartial advice, and guidance for smaller businesses across the UK.

You can attend online events and watch webinars on demand about everything from employment law changes to better business communication.

Joining the FSB for a yearly membership fee can give you access to local networking, helplines and legal documents for your growing business.

UK Chamber Network, British Chambers of Commerce

The well-known UK Chamber Network helps businesses through a network of local chambers across the UK.

They offer useful benefits like networking and business advice to assist with business growth or HR management.

Depending on the events happening in your area, you could attend business events and take advantage of member-to-member marketing opportunities.

Innovate UK Business Growth

Innovate UK focuses on supporting innovative businesses looking to grow.

The Innovate UK Business Growth programme offers different types of support, including help finding funding.

As a publicly funded service, it’s available to all high-potential small- to medium-sized companies.

The organisation’s specialists cover innovation, funding and finance, business expansion and more.

Business Support Service

The government provides a comprehensive Business Support Service to help entrepreneurs and companies in England.

You can get personalised help based on what you need and where you are.

The Business Support Helpline service offers free expert advice and financial assistance for businesses at any stage.

You can also chat online via webchat or visit the service’s social media pages on YouTube and X.

For businesses in Scotland, there’s a specific support service.

In Wales, Business Wales offers information, guidance, and support.

Northern Irish businesses can visit the NI Business Info website for targeted support.

Each service has its own helpline.

Learn more about the Business Support Service.

Business Board Network

The Business Board Network connects local businesses and community leaders to boost local economies.

You can check its website for updates on business support and local economic growth.

The network of Growth Hubs are local public or private sector partnerships that are led by local business boards.

The network joins up national and local business support, and its Growth Network Hubs are aimed at supporting businesses.

Enter your postcode into the Growth Hub Finder to see what support is available in your area.

The Office of the Small Business Commissioner (OSBC)

If you’re having trouble with clients paying late or have other payment disputes, the Office of the Small Business Commissioner can help.

This independent public body, set up by the government for the whole UK, deals with unfair payment practices.

The organisation aims to help smaller businesses to resolve disputes themselves and can also intervene if needed.

Local organisations

Initiatives supporting smaller businesses

The government’s finance and support finder can help you find local initiatives and guidance for smaller businesses.

These will vary from area to area, however here are just a few examples of organisations that offer local support:

• Fhunded (Lancashire) – the local authority has set up this organisation specifically to build a network of business founders and investors. It helps them connect and offers educational opportunities for those involved in early-stage investments
• Get Enterprising (Hertfordshire) – a Hertfordshire Futures programme delivered by Wenta that supports early-stage businesses. Specialist, one-to-one business advice is accessible online, by phone or face-to-face, alongside workshops, networking and more
• MIDAS – Invest in Manchester – this organisation helps businesses expand in Manchester (or relocate to the city) with a free package of services tailored to their needs.

Universities

Levels of support vary depending on the institution, but it’s certainly worth looking into what your local university can do for smaller businesses.

Support services are typically designed to be inclusive and aimed at a wide range of organisations – and many schemes are subsidised by the Government.

The type of support you might be able to access includes:

• Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) – KTPs are widely available through various UK universities, offering businesses access to academic expertise and support services to drive innovation and growth
• grants or loans – many universities provide financial assistance for specific projects or innovations
• internship and recruitment services – your local university can connect you with students looking for work placements
• training and workshops – academic staff may offer workshops to local businesses looking to upskill
• business accelerator programmes – these may offer mentoring and training, or access to resources.

For example, the University of Portsmouth has over 20 years of experience delivering KTPs and submits proposals for grants from Innovate UK for up to 75% of the project.

The University of Leeds provides access to a small business hub, a Help to Grow management course, KTPs, and expert support for innovators via its Nexus Innovation Hub.

The University of Lincolnshire’s offering includes a Productivity Programme for Greater Lincolnshire, designed to enable smaller businesses to advance through grant funding and events, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and support.

Business Accelerators

Several national programmes provide support for early-stage businesses.

Well-known Accelerators include:

• NatWest Accelerator – this initiative is aimed at businesses looking to grow and can offer help with accessing new markets, access to growth funding, and help with leadership development
• Barclays Eagle Labs – this programme isn’t just for start-ups, it’s also aimed at scale-ups, offering industry-specific support and access to new connections and networks.

These offer mentoring, resources, and networking opportunities.

Many other Accelerators and Incubators focus on specific geographic areas or industry sectors.

Read more about Business Accelerators and how they work.

Industry-specific membership organisations

Consider an industry-specific membership organisation that could benefit your growing business.

These organisations often provide targeted support for their sector.

For example:

• the British Retail Consortium (BRC) - the consortium offers leadership programmes, training, and professional development for retail businesses
• the Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA) - the MTA offers a wide range of services for manufacturing companies, from networking events to marketing support.

Online platforms

British Business Bank

Take advantage of the British Business Bank’s business guidance library, which offers guidance on various topics for small businesses.

These range from finances to sustainability, staffing, and supply chains.

Small Business Britain

Small Business Britain offers support programs, events, and campaigns for smaller businesses.

On the organisation’s website, you can sign up for online events and read ‘how-to’ guides covering everything from SEO to business planning.

You can also access the BT Sustainability for Small Business Programme, a free six-week programme offering vital sustainability training to small businesses.

Google

Google Digital Garage has a large library of training and tools to help you learn new digital skills or help you grow your small business.

The tech giant also offers free 1-to-1 mentoring from Google and BT experts to get guidance tailored to your business’s needs.

Discover more guidance and support for smaller businesses via our guidance library and learn about business management with our library of articles.