General support and advice

Barnet skills and training schemes

Barnet Council runs a number of free business support schemes.

We want to help our businesses recover from the negative impact of COVID-19 and build for the future.

Find out more on the business support schemes page

Start-up businesses

Enterprise Enfield is a non-profit organisation that's independent. It provides business advice and training dedicated to helping both new and established businesses succeed.

The UK franchise directory holds a wide range of franchise opportunities in many categories of business. Franchises provide a way for individuals to start their own businesses with the backing of an established brand and business process.

Networking

Best of Barnet provides a useful source for business networking events taking place throughout the borough.

Federation of Small Businesses the FSB is a non-profit making and non-party political organisation. It's the UK 's largest campaigning pressure group, promoting and protecting the interests of the self-employed and owners of small firms.

North London Branch run a free monthly networking event in North Finchley taking place on the first Monday of each month.

North London Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise covers Barnet, Enfield, Haringey and Waltham Forest and offers a specialised membership service for local businesses to help raise their profile and provides new opportunities.

Finance

Start-up Loans Company a government backed scheme to fund and mentor young entrepreneurs aged 18 to 30 thinking about getting into business. Low cost unsecured loan with the added incentive of quality business mentoring.

British Business Bank is a government owned business development bank dedicated to making finance markets work better for smaller businesses across the UK.

Premises

If you are interested in renting or buying property owned by Barnet Council, visit Commercial property

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are work-based training schemes designed around the needs of employers, which lead to nationally recognised qualifications. You can use apprenticeships to train both new and existing employees.

National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) provides further information and can help with funding apprenticeships to make your business more effective and competitive.

Skills and training

Access fully-funded short courses from Ixion (part of Shaw Trust) to give your employees a skills boost and ignite their passion for learning.

Free training to help get your business online, sell to customers and market your products and services with digital and social media.

General advice and support

Gov.uk

Gov.uk is the national first point of contact for web based free access to business information and support, replacing previous websites Business Link and Directgov.

British Library Business and Intellectual Property (IP) centre

The British Library Business and Intellectual Property (IP) centre at King's Cross St. Pancras provides help to start, run and grow your business.

Innovating for Growth Programme

Innovating for Growth Programme is for "exciting and ambitious London-based small business looking to grow into a new market, launch a new product or implement a new process".

If you're not sure how to take the next steps, you can sign up for a 3 month small business support programme for free.

Newable

Newable provides a range of business support initiatives from business support and advice, business finance, consulting and accommodation.

Leonard Cheshire Disability

Leonard Cheshire Disability helps support disabled entrepreneurs to set up or run their own business with the support of partner organisations. 

For more information check The Stelios Award

Prince's Trust

Prince's Trust provides useful guides on starting a business

If you have a business idea and you're aged 18 to 30, unemployed or working less than 16 hours a week, the Enterprise programme can help you decide if self-employment is right for you.

Prince's Initiative for Mature Enterprise (PRIME)

Is an initiative for mature enterprise, supporting business creation from people over 50

PRIME has been awarded a contract to deliver business advice and training to residents in Barnet. You must be aged 50 or older, and keen to be self-employed or start a business. 

Research, Knowledge and Technology Transfer

There are a wide variety of ways in which Middlesex University can help businesses

This includes technical advice, applied research or consultancy to help grow their organisation.

The Department for International Trade

Encourages foreign direct investment and helps UK-based companies to export elsewhere.