Access to Support

The Invest in Derby Team may draw on an extensive network of contacts to provide information and support to meet your business requirements including property professionals, recruitment and skills agencies, local business leaders and key players in all the major support agencies across Derby and the wider region.

For more information regarding the Invest in Derby service please visit our How We May Help section.

The following outlines an indication of the support that may be available to your business in Derby.

Business Link

The Invest in Derby Team work closely with Business Link Derbyshire who provides a comprehensive range of support services for business. Through its team of expert counsellors, Business Link Derbyshire can provide information and advice on areas such as

business development
innovation and technology
financial advice
E-commerce
exporting.

Business Link also provides a range of other business information including company searches; mailing shots and an extensive business library. These services are also available to relocating companies as part of a co-ordinated package of support and assistance.

Here's some of the current range of business support provided through the Business Link Service:

High Growth East Midlands

This initiative supports growing and growth potential business to unleash their potential by providing an intensive, bespoke support package. This includes a growth support coach, support on strategic planning, networking opportunities and support from business experts.

eBusiness

Open to small to medium size businesses this programme provides workshops and events to help enterprise to understand how ICT can benefit their business. A capital grant for ICT infrastructure of up to £3,000 is available, matched pound for pound by your business.

Resource Efficiency

This programme will provide you with practical advice on managing raw materials, energy and water to minimise waste and importantly reduce your business costs.

Business Link Start up Service

This service is for start up businesses and offers a range of services which includes workshops, one to one advice and mentoring.

Please contact Business Link direct to discuss these services.

Further details on financial support offered through Business Link and other partners can be found on our Funding and Financial Support page.

Manufacturing Advisory Service

The Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) provide experts to assess your business and implement an action plan tailored to streamline processes and improve profitability. MAS can then match the improvement you make to your business up to £3250.

UK Trade and Investment

UK Trade & Investment is the Government organisation that supports companies in the UK doing business internationally and overseas enterprises seeking to set up or expand in the UK. For overseas investors they offer support that includes trend analysis, research into markets and ongoing support.

For businesses seeking to export they can assist with preparing to trade overseas, country visits and trade missions, market research, training, mentoring and ongoing support.

The Princes Trust

The Princes Trust is a charity offering funding and business support to help young people, aged between 18 and 30 inclusive, start their own business.

Derby and Derbyshire Rail Forum

The Derby and Derbyshire Rail Forum is a membership based organisation for companies which have at least 10% rail turnover. The forums mission statement is "to promote the regions rail industry as a centre of rail excellence". High profile events and conferences draw attention to a significant cluster of skills in Derby.

Midlands Engineering Industries Redeployment Group (MEIRG)

MEIRG offer an effective programme of redeployment, skills development and industrial training. MEIRGE provides support and bespoke services to companies:

Providing access to all services for employees, when restructuring occurs
Providing people with opportunities to learn and develop new skills
Delivering new skills and technologies into businesses to support competitiveness and growth
Identifying and responding to training and development needs which 'narrow' the region's skills gaps.

Investors in People

Investors in People is the national Standard which sets out a level of good practice for training and development of people to achieve business goals by providing a national framework for improving business performance and competitiveness.

Information Sources

National and regional Government and Non Governmental organistions are an important source of information for business:

East Midlands Development Agency (EMDA)

EMDA is responsible for economic development and regeneration in the East Midlands Region. Their role is to direct the regional economic strategy through increasing business competitiveness, developing the region's skill base, attracting inward investment, community regeneration and development of land and buildings.

England's East Midlands

England's East Midlands provide help and support to businesses lokoing to invest in the East Midlands, from companies already here to businesses looking to invest in the UK.

BERR

BERR - the Department for Business - is here to help ensure business success in an increasingly competitive world. Our role is to boost productivity and keep the UK competitive and an attractive place to do business, especially in challenging economic times, as well as to help companies succeed overseas and to bring foreign investment to the UK. More information is available at the BERR website.

Government Office East Midlands

The Government Office for the East Midlands (GOEM) represents central Governments presence in the East Midlands, bringing together the activities of nine Government departments into a single co-ordinated locally managed office. GOEM influences policy development by working in partnership with local, regional and national organisations and reflects back to central Government the interests, concerns and successes of the region with a view to ensuring that policy development takes these into account.