Business Development
New Support for Businesses
We can help your business in a variety of ways, including property searches and help with planning and environmental regulation. Please contact us for further information.
The following organisations can be of help to your business:
Barking and Dagenham Business Directory|
Barking and Dagenham Council in partnership with the local Chamber of Commerce has produced a comprehensive Business Directory for the borough.
This includes information on a whole range of businesses based in Barking and Dagenham or offering services to the community, including other commercial organisations.
Barking and Dagenham Chamber of Commerce|
The Chamber represents its members' interests and supports their competitiveness and growth. It seeks to influence all those who have the power to make decisions affecting local businesses, as well as providing a networking forum and valuable business information.
Barking and Dagenham Small Business Centre|
The Barking and Dagenham Small Business Centre offers free business support services to local residents, including practical training on how to start your business, supported by specialist one to one business counselling, to help refine your business plans and help you to launch a sustainable business. We can also offer financial assistance through our Loan Funding and Grants.
Building East has been set up to help the London building industry to take advantage of the growth of the Thames Gateway. Helping small local businesses to grow.
Business Link London is part of the national Business Link network and delivers impartial, expert and practical advice to London's small and medium-sized businesses.
The British Chamber of Commerce comprises a national network of quality-accredited Chambers of Commerce representing more than 135,000 businesses of all sizes in all sectors of the economy.
The official UK government register of UK companies.
Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform|
The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform works to create the best environment for business success in the UK. The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform assist people to become more productive by promoting enterprise, innovation and creativity.
East London Small Business Centre|
The East London Small Business Centre offers practical training in how to start a business, supported by one to one business counselling delivered by experienced advisers, to help refine your business plans, and help you launch your business. Help with start-up accommodation is also available.
Federation of Small Businesses|
Federation of Small Businesses works to promote and protect the interests of the self-employed and owners of small firms.
Britain's Health and Safety Commission and the Health and Safety Executive are responsible for the regulation of almost all the risks to health and safety arising from work activity in Britain.
HM Revenue and Customs is the department now responsible for the business of the former Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise.
The site is useful for small companies wishing to learn more about business insurance and provides handy information regarding the different types of cover available. The site is simple to use and contains links to professional organisations that can help small businesses obtain advice about the cover they need.
University of East London established Knowledge Dock to offer assistance to start up in business, support to grow and develop the business, tailored or in-depth specialist advice, or one to one consultancy with a business consultant.
London 2012 Games - Opportunities for your business|
The London Business Network has been established with the aim of helping the capital's business community take advantage of opportunities arising from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
National Federation of Enterprise Agencies|
The National Federation of Enterprise Agencies is the membership body for Local Enterprise Agencies and other-like minded organisations in England. It forms a network of independent, not for profit local agencies committed to responding to the needs of small and growing businesses.
New Deal can provide the support needed during all the planning stages when first starting out in business. If you are aged between 18 and 24 and have been claiming Job seekers Allowance for 6 months or more you will be eligible to enter the Employment Option - Self Employment route in New Deal for Young people.
This website provides information and analyse the needs of small businesses in small businesses. Business Link website provides business advice and access to a wide network of business support.
Start-up support from the Prince's Trust for those entrepreneurs aged 18-30, unemployed with a business idea but unable to raise the money.
Train to Gain provides business with the tools to access the training that it needs to succeed by offering free and independent skills needs analysis, recommendations for skills training and identifying funding for training.
This website provides information on a variety of issues in relation to setting up your own business, including Business guidance, business plan, business set up and business premises.
Want to make your business more sustainable?|
An online resource to help run a business more sustainable with top tips and useful resources to achieve your goals.
Intellectual Property
The UK Patent Office is responsible for Intellectual Property (Copyright, Designs, Patents and Trade Marks) in the UK.
Commercial Lettings
Commercial Property details are available from Glenny.
Planning permission/advice
Planning Portal
The Planning Portal is the UK Government's planning resource. The website will provide information about the planning system, applying for planning permission and much more.
Staff recruitment
Job Centre Plus helps employers find the right people to fill their vacancies.
Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) - employment issues|
ACAS advisers work with employers and their employees to make sure procedures, processes and necessary training to make the workplace more effective are in place.
Business Training Courses
East London Small Business Centre|
Training provided includes comprehensive 4 day business start-up course, one to one help with implementing your business plan and help with accounting and legal issues.
Business Directories
Barking and Dagenham Chamber of Commerce Limited|
Financial details, grants or loans
Credit management advice.
Comprehensive information on government grants for both businesses and voluntary groups.
Open4Business Funding Opportunities|
Funding schemes that businesses in the borough are eligible for from European Union, national, regional and local sources.
Specifically for business people in the London boroughs of Redbridge, Havering and Barking and Dagenham. The Phoenix Loan Fund is for funding for business proposals where no other finance is available. The fund offer includes:
- Loans of up to £10,000 for new and existing businesses
- Free help with developing a viable business proposal
- Repayment over a maximum of 5 years
- Interest charged at only 2% above bank base rate
For businesses that have been in existence for more than 1 year and have Trading Accounts that are certifiable. Required to join in a mentoring scheme. It includes:
- Borrow up to £20,000
- Interest fixed for first 3 years at European hurdle rate, presently at 9.81%
- Open to businesses anywhere in London
- Match funding may be required
- Directors Guarantees are required for Limited companies
Miscellaneous
Banks
HSBC|
Planning Advice Note Summary - PDF 
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Planning Advice Note Summary - Word 
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This is a link to a Planning Advice Note produced in September 2005. It provides guidance for land developers, businesses, training providers and residents about local labour and local business agreements.
To view PDF files requires the free Adobe Acrobat Reader software.
