Start-Up Loans is a government-backed project lending up to £25,000 to people wanting to start a business or with a business less than 3 years old. All the information on Start-Up Loans, how to apply, the Start-Up Loans ambassadors and global partners can be found on their website: www.startuploans.co.uk New ‘second loans’ are available for businesses that have been trading for up to five year Loans to provide much-needed support for the UK’s innovators and entrepreneurs.
Lancashire Community Finance and Hyndburn Enterprise Trust are two of the local delivery partners for Start-Up Loans. They have all the details available on their websites or by calling them on 01772 556877 (Lancashire Community Finance) or 01254 600625 (Hyndburn Enterprise Trust).
The Prince's Trust provide support to young people aged 18-30 who are interested in setting up their own business, through a 4 day course and loan funding from £500-£5000. You should be aged 18-30 and:
• Unemployed (you don’t have to be claiming benefits)
• Working less than 16 Hours a week
• In education less than 14 Hours a week
• Graduates who have been out of University for 6 months
Please call 0800 842 842 or 07904 972498 or apply online: https://www.princes-trust.org.uk/help-for-young-people/get-in-touch
U Start - U Start will support students, graduates and university staff to unlock their entrepreneurial potential and become enterprise ready. The project will also support student, graduate and university staff start-ups to increase their resilience and enable them to be growth ready.
The Social Enterprise Lancashire Network or Selnet, is an organisation created to support social businesses across Lancashire. Selnet offers networking, support and events and also offers support through the Start-Up Lancashire programme.
Social enterprises can apply for funding through the Reach Fund and First Ark Social Investment. Please see their webpages and our downloads page for details.
The Start Up Donut provides further useful information and resources for starting a new business.
Orvia offers free support to individuals wanting to start up in business or existing businesses wishing to diversify, expand, change direction, or grow. Please contact Orvia, on (01772) 429291 to find out if you could benefit. Please see the below document for further details.