Start a business

Starting a business can be daunting and people often wonder where to start. There are some great sources of information and support available to help you get your business off the ground.

Advice and support

Ashfield District Council Business support service

We provide a free business support service for people that want to start or grow their businesses.

HeadStart

Is part of Enterprising Ashfield Programme and is available to anyone that lives or works in Sutton in Ashfield or Kirkby in Ashfield.

HeadStart can help you to develop your business idea into a commercial venture and participants gain access to £1000 grant.

Start up support for local entrepreneurs

This is a fully funded support programme being offered by East Midlands Combined County Authority and is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Funds.

It is delivered locally by NBV Enterprise Solutions Ltd and has been designed to help you turn business idea into a thriving enterprise.

This is only available to small or medium enterprises located in Hucknall or the Rurals areas of Ashfield.

Participants will gain access to a tailored blend of expert led workshops and personalised one to one support, specifically designed for aspiring entrepreneurs, early stage businesses, and small enterprises with growth ambitions

  1. Starting in business workshops – Interactive 2 day sessions covering the fundamentals of launching a successful business, including planning, marketing, pricing, finance, and how to create a sustainable, carbon neutral enterprise.
  2. Dedicated business advisers – Experienced professionals available for one to one mentoring and support, helping you navigate challenges, build a strong business plan, improve operations, adopt new technologies like AI, and explore funding opportunities.

To find out more please contact NBV Economic Development team:

The Kings Trust Enterprise Programme

This is available to people aged between 18 to 30 that have a business idea they want  turning this into a business.

Participants will develop the skills and knowledge you need to launch and grow a business through flexible training and mentoring from business experts. You can also apply for test your business idea grant of £500, and start-up grant of £5000 in addition to a start-up loan worth up to £25,000. This programme is available to people living in Ashfield.

Ingenuity Impact Programme

This is a free national innovation and entrepreneurship programme, providing start-up skills training, mentoring and networking opportunities, plus routes to funding for early-stage business ideas.

Barclays Eagle Labs

Assist tech businesses across the UK. They offer a range of programmes which will run for 2 years designed to boost the growth of UK tech start-ups and scale-ups. Barclays Eagle Labs is a government funded programme.

Other sources of information

Nottingham City Library

Nottingham City Library offer free business support through the Business and Intellectual Property Centre.

They can help you to develop your business ideas and plans, with access to professional market research, business directories, intellectual property advice and a range of workshops and networking events.

You can also email them to receive monthly news and events updates.

East Midlands Combined County Authority Growth Hub

EMCCA Growth Hub is one of 30 Local Enterprise Partnerships working across England to support business growth.

They help by signposting you to the most appropriate business support through their website and a network of advisors based with partners across the region.

This website includes information on business support available from local and national sources including how to access finance, resource efficiency, supply chain development, employing and training your staff, and dates of local business events and seminars.

GOV.UK

The Government website provides online guides and tutorials, a contracts finder, finance and business support finder, practical steps to setting up a business - such as registering, licensing, banking, VAT, National Insurance and employing people.

HMRC

HMRC provide online guides and tutorials including how to determine if you are employed or self-employed for tax purposes.

Nottinghamshire County Council

Nottinghamshire County Council have a specialist commercial team of experienced Trading Standards Officers who have the most up to date knowledge of legislation and industry changes to help you achieve compliance and protect your business Trading.

Free 30 minute appointments are available.

Ashfield Volunteer Action

Provide support to independent voluntary and community sector in Ashfield District through partnerships and community led development. They can help you to start a community organisation, advise on funding and connect you to local networks

Legal Foundations

Provide offer easy-to-use legal document generators help get your business started and achieve growth, drafted by qualified UK Lawyers.

 

Related links

Page last updated 12 November 2025

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