Here you can find information on a wide variety of business organisations, whether local, national, or international.
There's a diverse range of support organisations, advisors, funding sources, and networking opportunities available to Island businesses - and this section tells you who's there to help.
Click on a heading below to see information about that organisation.
- -> Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce, Tourism and Industry
- -> Business Link in the South East
- -> Companies House
- -> Cowes Marine Cluster
- -> Designing Demand
- -> eHampshire
- -> Enterprise Europe Network South East UK
- -> Finance South East Ltd
- -> Fredericks Foundation
- -> Hampshire and Isle of Wight Sustainable Business Partnership
- -> InBiz South East (Isle of Wight)
- -> Isle of Wight Lottery
- -> Manufacturing Advisory Service South East
- -> Marine South East
- -> Rural Development Programme
- -> SEEDA
- -> Shaw Trust
- -> Solent Innovation and Growth Team
- -> Solent Synergy
- -> Start Your Own Business
- -> The Prince's Trust
- -> Train to Gain
- -> UK Sector Skills Body for Enterprise
Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce, Tourism and Industry
The Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce, Tourism and Industry is a leading player in the Approved Chamber Network, and so provides an independent, powerful voice for the views and concerns of its members at local, regional, national, and international levels.
• It is a membership organisation, which represents and promotes the interests of, and meets the needs of its diverse membership by providing a quality assured range of services.
• As a Chamber member, you will be part of a key business organisation that will have been established for 100 years in 2010, and is as relevant in the 21st century as it has ever been. The Chamber represents your views and becomes your voice - the voice of local business!
Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce, Mill Court, Furlongs, Newport, IOW, PO30 2AA. Tel: +44 (0)1983 520777. Email IW Chamber of Commerce.
Business Link in the South East
Whether you are thinking about starting a business, run an existing business that wants to grow, or need advice on how to deal with business issues, challenges or opportunities, Business Link can help.
• They provide access to the information, advice and support you need to start a new business or maintain and grow an existing one. Rather than providing all the advice and help themselves, Business Link put you in touch with a range of expertise from across the private, public and voluntary support sectors.
• The Business Link service is coordinated nationally, while local delivery is driven by nine Regional Development Agencies. In the South East of England, funding is provided by the South East of England Development Agency (SEEDA), and the Business Link service is delivered locally by Business Link providers.
Business Link in the South East, 5th Floor, Hollywood House, Church Street East, Woking, Surrey, GU21 6HJ. Tel: 0845 6009006. Email Business Link South East.
Companies House
Companies House is the foundation of company information exchange in the UK.
Companies House. Tel: +44 (0)303 1234500. Email Companies House.
Cowes Marine Cluster (a division of the IW Chamber of Commerce)
A maritime collaboration based in Cowes, IOW.
• Boat builders, marine manufacturers, equipment and material suppliers and other service providers have formed strong strategic alliances and collaborative links, in order to provide solutions to business and the best service to clients.
Cowes Marine Cluster, c/o IW Chamber of Commerce, Mill Court, Furlongs, Newport, IOW, PO30 2AA. Tel: +44 (0)1983 520777. Email Cowes Marine Cluster.
Designing Demand
Designing Demand is a business support programme from the Design Council.
• It helps businesses discover how to become more innovative, more competitive and more profitable. It does this by giving managers the skills to exploit design by spotting opportunities, briefing designers and running design projects that deliver.
• Designing Demand is part of the Government’s national package of publicly funded business support products, Solutions for Business.
eHampshire
eHampshire is responsible for driving forward the use of ICT and high-speed communications in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
• The eHampshire Partnership aims to encourage businesses and communities to exploit the benefits of high-speed communications.
eHampshire, FREEPOST NAT22518, Winchester, SO22 4BR. Tel: 0845 6066118. Email eHampshire.
Enterprise Europe South East UK
The Enterprise Europe Network is a new specialist support network for SMEs; its role is to raise awareness of business opportunities for companies within the EU and inform them of relevant regulations, programmes, and initiatives.
• The Enterprise Europe Network acts as a one-stop-shop offering a range of tailored services to help businesses develop new products and access new markets.
Enterprise Europe Network South East UK, 34 Tower View, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent, ME19 4UY. Tel: +44 (0)1732 878588. Email Enterprise Europe South East UK.
Finance South East
Finance South East (FSE) is the regional funding organisation, backed by SEEDA.
• With access to public and private resources, FSE specialises in identification, funding and development of high potential growth businesses.
• FSE manages a number of funds and grant programmes.
Finance South East Ltd, Riverside House, 4 Meadows Business Park, Station Approach, Blackwater, Camberley, Surrey, GU17 9AB. Contact Finance South East.
Fredericks Foundation
The Fredericks Foundation is a charity that helps disadvantaged people to set up, or expand, their own business as a means to achieve financial independence while rebuilding their confidence and self-esteem.
• Fredericks Foundation provide a comprehensive range of business support and microloan funding for start-ups and small businesses.
Fredericks Foundation South East, Fredericks House, 39 Guildford Road, Lightwater, Surrey, GU18 5SA. Tel: +44 (0)1276 472722. Contact Fredericks Foundation.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Sustainable Business Partnership
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Sustainable Business Partnership (SBP) exists to encourage and support more businesses to adopt sustainable business practices.
• It achieves this by, engaging and working directly with businesses to help them identify and implement actions; supporting, developing, shaping and delivering on local and regional strategy; helping to stimulate demand for the local sustainable business economy working with strategic and delivery partner organisations.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight SBP, Economic Development, Hampshire County Council, The Castle, Winchester, SO23 8UJ. Tel: advice helpline +44 (0)1962 878131. Tel: Isle of Wight Sustainable Business Network +44 (0)1962 845591. Email SBP.
InBiz
InBiz works with Business Link, Jobcentre Plus, and Learning and Development Councils to help individuals into self-employment and to support start-ups, micro-businesses and SMEs; plus it also focuses on enterprise creation and neighbourhood regeneration.
InBiz South East (Isle of Wight), 2nd Floor, 8 Grays Walk, Newport, IOW, PO30 1TD. Tel: +44 (0)1983 526867. Email InBiz (Isle of Wight).
Isle of Wight Lottery (a division of the IW Chamber of Commerce)
The Isle of Wight Lottery was created eight years ago to help grow the Island economy and support local businesses.
• The Lottery is funded by the sale of £1 tickets and offers three prizes every week - £2,000, £300, and £200. All proceeds go into a loan fund, which is available to Island businesses.
The Isle of Wight Lottery, Mill Court, Furrlongs, Newport, IOW, PO30 2AA. Tel: +44 (0)1983 529888. Email Isle of Wight Lottery.
Manufacturing Advisory Service South East
The Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) South East is the leading advisor for manufacturing and can provide you with practical, hands-on support focused on improving your bottom line.
• Whether you're looking to improve efficiency, raise productivity, develop new ideas or tackle a problem that is hampering profitability, MAS experts are there to help and if you are an SME all their support is either free or highly subsidised.
MAS South East, Station Road, Hook, Hampshire, RG27 9TL. Tel: 0845 6092121. Email MAS.
Marine South East
Marine South East is the regional marine initiative of the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), developed to address the needs of the marine sector in the South East region.
Marine South East, Chilworth Business Incubator, 2 Venture Road, Southampton Science Park, Southampton SO16 7NP. Contact Marine South East.
Rural Development Programme for England
The Rural Development Programme (RDPE) is jointly funded by the EU, through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, and the Government, with a budget of £3.9 billion for 2007-2013.
• £3.3 billion of the total budget will be allocated to agri-environment and other land management schemes. This funding will help farmers to manage the land more sustainably and deliver important outcomes on biodiversity, landscape and access, water quality, and climate change.
• Some £600 million will be made available to make agriculture and forestry more competitive and sustainable and to enhance opportunity in rural areas.
Rural Development Programme, Defra, Customer Contact Unit, Eastbury House, 30-34 Albert Embankment, London, SE1 7TL. Defra helpline. Tel: 08459 335577. Email Defra.
SEEDA
The South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), is responsible for the sustainable economic development and regeneration of the South East of England, which includes the Isle of Wight.
• SEEDA's aim is to create a prosperous, dynamic and inspirational region by helping businesses compete more effectively, training a highly skilled workforce, supporting and enabling our communities, while safeguarding natural resources and cherishing our rich cultural heritage.
• SEEDA aims to be a catalyst for change within the South East, working with partner organisations - businesses, education at all levels, local authorities, Government agencies, voluntary and community organisations and many others - to produce clearly recognisable results.
SEEDA Headquarters, Cross Lanes, Guildford, GU1 1YA. Tel: +44 (0)1483 484200. Contact SEEDA.
Shaw Trust
The Shaw Trust is a national charity which supports disabled and disadvantaged people to prepare for work, find jobs, and live more independently.
Shaw Trust Enquiries, Fox Talbot House, Greenways Business Park, Bellinger Close, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 1BN. Tel: +44 (0)1225 716300. Minicom: 08457 697288. Contact Shaw Trust.
Solent Innovation & Growth Team
The Solent Innovation and Growth Team (SIGT) comprises experienced business professionals and benefits from the support and help of a very strong network of successful local entrepreneurs, professional services firms, and business coaches and mentors, as well as partner organisations.
• SIGT's goal is to provide the best possible assistance to innovative entrepreneurs and high-growth businesses across southern and mid-Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
• They support companies at all stages in their development so that they can accelerate their growth and rate of innovation. In addition to working closely with each business on specific opportunities and challenges, SIGT also ensure that they are connected to the key players in their sector.
SIGT. Tel: +44 (0)1489 889882. Email Solent Innovation & Growth Team.
Solent Synergy
Solent Synergy Limited exists to make innovative companies outstanding. They are a not-for-profit company set up to help innovative businesses grow and succeed in the Solent region.
• Their dynamic network brings together entrepreneurs, innovators, investors, professional service providers, and the local university knowledge base.
Solent Synergy, 25 Barnes Wallis Road, Segensworth East, Fareham, Hampshire, PO15 5TT. Tel: +44 (0)1489 889882. Contact Solent Synergy.
Start Your Own Business
Start Your Own Business (SYOB) is designed to help if you run your own business or are thinking about starting your own small business.
• If you run a business on the Isle of Wight or are thinking of setting up a new business on the Island, you will find the SYOB site both interesting and useful.
• It has been designed to help you find local firms and business support organisations who will be happy to give you friendly advice as well as provide the services that you may need.
The Prince's Trust
The Prince's Trust Business Programme helps people to explore and test their business ideas, write business plans and start their own businesses or achieve alternative goals in education, training, or work.
• The Business Programme is for people who have a business idea they want help to explore; are aged 18-30; are unemployed or working less than 16 hours a week; live in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland.
The Prince's Trust South East Regional Office, Leatherhead Enterprise Centre, Randalls Road, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 7RY. Tel: +44 (0)1372 825164. Email The Prince's Trust South East Regional Office.
Tourism South East
Tourism South East works with tourism businesses, including more than 2,000 members; local, regional and national government; and many other key organisations throughout the UK and internationally, to support the industry and promote the region.
Train to Gain
Managed by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), Train to Gain is the Government’s flagship service to support employers in England, of all sizes, and in all sectors, to improve the skills of their employees, unlock talent, and drive improved business performance.
• A key element of Train to Gain are skills brokers who offer employers impartial advice and at no cost, helping them to find the best training solution from high-quality and responsive training.
Train to Gain. Telephone Business Link: 0845 6009006. Contact Train to Gain.
UK Sector Skills Body for Enterprise
UK Sector Skills Body for Enterprise (SFEDI) is the government recognised, not-for-profit standards setting body for both business enterprise and business support. Run by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs, SFEDI researches leading practice, sets standards, principles, and guidelines.
SFEDI, Yorkshire Coast Enterprise Centre, Auborough Street, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, YO11 1HT. Tel: 0845 2245928. Contact SFEDI.
Who's there to help? The Island's business support network Download a PDF of 'Who's there to help? The Island's business support network'