Advice and Support

Do you need bespoke support for your business? Find the right support services for your business growth and development

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New Anglia Growth Hub

The Growth Hub offers support and guidance to businesses throughout Norfolk and Suffolk. 

• Bringing together a range of local and national business support sources.
• The growth hub is free. 
• Wide range of subjects including finance, start a business, exports.

Contact their helpline on 0300 333 6536 or Contact Us (opens new window). For further information visitNew Anglia Growth Hub (opens new window).

Norfolk Knowledge Hub

The Norfolk Knowledge Hub, crafted in collaboration with Norfolk County Council, is your free to view 24/7 virtual business support and learning portal.View further information on the Norfolk Knowledge Hub (opens new window).

Engage with Business

Engage with Business offers Coaching and Training to business owners and their staff, helping them gain the skills necessary to grow their business. They offer a range of management workshops designed to help develop skills in:

• Managing People - 'People Management Skills.'
• Managing money - 'Manage Money, Make Money.'
• Developing themselves as Business Leaders - 'Those Who Lead.'

For more information visit Engage with Business (opens new window)

Make Tax Digital (MTD)

You are able to find providers of MTD software and bridging tools for VATon the website Make Tax Digital for VAT (opens new window).

New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership 

A unique business-led collaboration between the private, public and education sectors across Norfolk and Suffolk. Their ambition is to drive economic growth and transform the local economy into a global centre for talent and innovation.

Their Strategic Economic Plan (PDF) [3MB] (opens new window)  sets out the aim to create 95,000 more jobs, 10,000 new businesses and 117,000 more homes by 2026. 

Norfolk Chamber of Commerce

A business membership organisation, Norfolk Chamber supports and represents the business community through the county. For further information and membership details,visit Chamber of Commerce website (opens new window).

Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)

A membership organisation, the FSB supports small businesses across the UK, offering a wide range of business services and provides a powerful voice on their behalf.For further information and membership details please visit FSB website. (opens new window).

Make UK

Make UK is the representative voice of UK manufacturing and Engineering and a leading provider of business support, helping more than 5,000 businesses and 2,000 direct members. Their aim is for the manufacturing industry to thrive, innovate and compete both locally and on a global scale.

For further information and membership details visit the Make UK website. (opens new window)

Sector-based work experience

The sector-based work academy programme (SWAP) can support you to create a skilled workforce for your business. Sector-based work academies help prepare those receiving unemployment benefits to apply for jobs in a different area of work. Placements are designed to help meet your immediate and future recruitment needs as well as to recruit a workforce with the right skills to sustain and grow your business. SWAP is administered by Jobcentre Plus and available in England and Scotland.

A sector-based work academy can last up to 6 weeks. Placements have 3 main components:

1. pre-employment training - matched to the needs of your business sector
2. work experience placement - a great opportunity for your business to identify talent and for the individual to cement their knowledge and understanding of the required role
3. a guaranteed job interview or help with an employer's recruitment process

The key feature of sector-based work academies is that they offer a flexible approach and can be adapted to meet the needs of participants. 

View the Gov.UK Sector Based Work Academies for more information (opens new window)

Buy Local Norfolk

A membership organisation, Buy Local Norfolk encourages the purchase of goods and services locally, keeping a significant higher proportion of income in the local economy. Buy Local looks to highlight sustainability, diversity and community roles of local and independent businesses in Norfolk.

For further information and membership details visit Buy Local (opens new window)

Anglia Rural Consultants

Anglia Rural Consultants pulls together experienced independent specialists to provide expert, practical advice to help your business grow.For further information visit Anglia Rural (opens new window).

Entrepreneur Handbook

Entrepreneur Handbook is a free information platform, providing the best possible content, resources and guides for entrepreneurs and small businesses. For further information,visit Entrepreneur Handbook (opens new window).