Business Support

Here in Peterborough we understand the value of business support and engagement, which is why we have a strong network of organisations and individuals that provide advice, information and expert knowledge to help your business grow.

OPPORTUNITY PETERBOROUGH

The Economic Development team at Opportunity Peterborough specialises in inward investment and business engagement. The team visits local businesses to offer support and guidance where required. There are a number of ways the team can assist:

• Our Bondholder network and other connections allow us to put businesses in touch with other opportunities for mutually beneficial collaboration. The Bondholder programme also offers excellent networking through a regular, free events calendar.

• We have very strong links with agencies providing direct business support, both general and more sector specific. If we can’t provide an answer ourselves, we will find someone who can.

• Assisting local companies with any recruitment issues. We have excellent relationships with Jobcentre Plus, recruitment agencies and the local University to ensure all your recruitment needs are met.

• We have forged excellent relationships with local planning officers and property agents and are therefore well placed to assist companies relocate and/or expand; we can also facilitate the whole process from start to finish.

Property searches
Opportunity Peterborough’s Economic Development team also offers a free and confidential property search for any company or individual looking to relocate their business within or to Peterborough. We work closely with all the local commercial property agents, and, if requested, withhold your contact details until you are ready to negotiate directly with them. We strive to provide the best, confidential service so please call us on 01733 317417 or email patricia.taylor@opportunitypeterborough.co.uk with your requirements.

Peterborough Skills Service
Part of the Peterborough Skills Vision, the Peterborough Skills Service is a dedicated brokerage programme working to up-skill the city’s talent pool. By creating links between schools, colleges and employers the service strives to prepare young people for the world of work. For more information contact:

Sue Addison, Skills Lead for Opportunity Peterborough
Email: sue.addison@opportunitypeterborough.co.uk 
Tel: 01733 317417

GENERAL BUSINESS ADVICE

Business Link
Business Link is the Government’s online resource for businesses. The website provides information on everything from starting up a business, tax payroll and company information to sales, marketing and growing a business.

To find out more, please see http://www.businesslink.gov.uk

EnviroCluster
EnviroCluster is a business support initiative run by the UK Centre for Economic & Environmental Development (UK CEED). It was set up in 2002 to support businesses and organisations in the Low Carbon and Environmental Goods and Services (LCEGS) sector. EnviroCluster operates from the Eco Innovation Centre in Peterborough and serves to support eco-innovative businesses across both Greater Peterborough and the East of England.

For more information, please contact UK CEED:
Contact:  Gareth Jones
Tel:    01733 311644
Email:   g.jones@ukceed.org
Website:  http://www.envirocluster.co.uk/

European Enterprise Network
Enterprise Europe East of England is your local gateway to the Enterprise Europe Network, Europe’s largest business and innovation network spanning more than 50 European countries.

Its team of locally based advisers provide free support to regional companies, research institutes and universities through a range of partnering and information services designed to help them make the most of the European marketplace. Services include:

• Partnering
• European information
• Public procurement
• EU R&D opportunities
• Your voice in Europe

For further information on these services please contact:

Chris Woodward
Tel no: 01707398716
Email: c.woodward@eeneast.org.uk
Website: www.enterpriseeuropeeast.org.uk

Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) East of England
The Manufacturing Advisory Service in the East of England (MAS East) is a dedicated source of support to the region’s engineering, manufacturing and technology businesses. MAS now plays a vital role in helping UK manufacturers to share knowledge, improve productivity and achieve success in an increasingly competitive global economy.

MAS East provides manufacturing businesses with expert advice through hands-on support, training and events, and delivers significant measurable improvements to businesses by helping them improve their performance and productivity.
For more information contact MAS East:
Tel: 0845 300 4443
Email: info@mas-east.org.uk
Website: http://www.mas-east.org.uk/

Peterborough City Council
For general advice such as planning issues or business rates please call the Peterborough City Council switchboard on 01733 747474.

The TravelChoice team at Peterborough City Council can help companies assemble travel plans to reduce the reliance on single occupancy car use and seeks to offer and encourage a range of alternative forms of travel, particularly walking, cycling, public transport and car sharing. 

Contact: James Harrison, Sustainable Travel Officer
Tel: 01733 317483
Website: http://www.peterborough.gov.uk/travelchoice/travel_plans/workplace.aspx 

Peterborough Conference Desk
Situated in the City’s destination centre, the free conference desk service searches all local hotels to find a suitable venue for a meeting, conference or exhibition.
Located in the Peterborough Visitor Destination Centre, the Conference Desk offers impartial advice, local knowledge and assists in searching for the conference venue that is right for your next event.

For more information, please contact:
Tel: 01733 452336 
E-mail: conference.desk@peterborough.gov.uk 

Peterborough Environment City Trust: Investors in the Environment
Investors in the Environment is your opportunity to gain environmental accreditation through a business’ genuine change and environmental improvement.

Investors in the Environment provides businesses with a framework for cutting their environmental impact and an accreditation stamp for achieving different levels of reduction – bronze, silver and green.
Participants measure their environmental impact and are guided through how to make reductions in areas like water use, energy use, and the amount of waste produced. The scheme focuses on practical ways businesses can implement green changes to make it as easy as possible for them to take part.

Unlike most environmental accreditations, Investors in the Environment takes a bold approach insisting that actual environmental savings are made, rather than just having the right paperwork in place.

To find out more about Investors in the Environment, please contact PECT:
Contact: Kim Coley
Tel: 01733 866436
Email kim.coley@pect.org.uk 
Website: www.iie.uk.com 

UKTI
UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) works with UK-based businesses to ensure their success in international markets, and encourage the best overseas companies to look to the UK as their global partner of choice.
UKTI has a customer commitment to helping its UK and international customers by providing a range of services, to a high standard and improve customer service by listening to customer feedback.
UKTI also has a co-ordination role across government to establish a more systematic approach to relationships with companies which are the most economically significant investors and exporters.

For more information contact UKTI on:
Tel: 020 7215 8000
Website: http://www.ukti.gov.uk

Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce
Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce has active business support schemes, holding monthly events in the city such as informal networking evenings and safari networking breakfasts.
Website: www.cambridgeshirechamber.co.uk
Tel: 01223 237414

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
For information and advice on available business funding, visit:

J4B Grants
www.j4bgrants.co.uk
Search this website for the latest European grants, UK Government grants and other sources of funding to help you start and grow your business.

Leadership and Management funding
The Leadership and Management fund covers the East and West Midlands and East of England. It offers match support for training grants worth up to £1000. See http://www.i-l-m.com/ for more information.

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
As well as Opportunity Peterborough’s own Skills team, there is a strong network of local providers who can assist with training requirements.

City College Peterborough
City College Peterborough offers a wide range of programmes and courses to promote employability and career development, including apprenticeships, Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM), NVQ’s and complying with the law (first aid, food safety, health & safety).

The College is also able to tailor courses conceptualised to individual business needs. This includes IT courses, team building and interpersonal skills, or skills to improve English and maths within your workforce.

You can also hire rooms for interviews, meetings and training purposes at the College’s campus in the heart of the city in Brook Street.  The College offers rooms for up to 50 delegates (air conditioned) and there are no additional costs for equipment hire.  
For more information, contact the college:

Tel no: 01733 761361
Email: business@citycollegepeterborough.ac.uk
Website: http://www.pals.ac.uk/

Peterborough City Council: 8-19 Service
The 8-19 Service works with young people and seeks to create work experience opportunities, particularly for those not currently in education, employment or training.

A dedicated Young People’s Employment Advisor works with young people to explore avenues to employment that includes researching market segments and opportunities, arranging employer visits, work trials and interview skills sessions.

For more information contact:
Muhammed Chagani
Email: Muhammed.Chagani@Peterborough.gov.uk
Tel no: 01733 863954

University Centre Peterborough & Peterborough Regional College
Business Solutions
Business Solutions is a dedicated employer division of Peterborough Regional College (PRC) and University Centre Peterborough (UCP).

Its team has been established specifically to bring PRC and UCP to the business community and provides a range of specialist and bespoke solutions for employers.

Organisations may be eligible for financial assistance to support business training and skills requirements.
It currently works with over 400 employers and offers a diverse range of skills training and advice delivered through:

• Training and courses
• Apprenticeships
• Business management programmes
• Higher education
• Bespoke training solutions
• Skills for life and ESOL
• Pre-employment training

Business Solutions has extensive experience of working successfully with organisations of all sizes to fully understand their specific needs, helping to build bespoke training solutions to meet agreed objectives.

Telephone:  0845 8728722, press option 2
Email:  business.solutions@peterborough.ac.uk
Website:  http://www.peterborough.ac.uk/

Other Higher Education opportunities
Partnerships are being formed with other universities to make sure that the right skills are available to local business.

If you are in the environmental sector, and in particular have a specialism around renewable engineering/bio-fuel technology, Cranfield University is developing post-graduate courses in the city: http://www.pboroenergy.co.uk/about-us.php

Also, Middlesex University is offering Work-based Learning modules locally to complement the offer from existing providers: http://www.mdx.ac.uk/wbl