Local Factsheet - South Norfolk

All SME businesses that have been trading for at least one year are supported with a range of services, from day-to-day business advice right up to specialist sector advice. Referrals to local and national business support, funding and finance, face-to-face support through a team of Growth, Skills and High Growth Advisers, as well as useful information resources and the latest regional news and events through the Growth Hub website. There is also information on the Growth Hub events to support operational and marketing processes. The funding opportunities section of the website shows a range of funding options that are currently available.

Businesses can sign up to receive updates on funding opportunities, business news, upcoming events and more.

Eligibility: Available for businesses that have been trading for over 1 year. 

Website: www.newangliagrowthhub.co.uk

Contact us: https://www.newangliagrowthhub.co.uk/contact-us/ (Preferred method contact) 

Tel: 0300 333 6536

The South Norfolk and Broadland Councils provide comprehensive support for businesses in their region. Their support initiatives cover various aspects crucial for business growth and development. Some of the key support areas include: business rates relief, business advice and support including advice on starting a business, accessing funding, and understanding regulatory requirements, networking opportunities, commercial Property Search, and skills and training support.

Eligibility: Available for all stages of business including businesses not yet trading.

Website: https://www.southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk/business

Tel: 01603 980441 - Economic Development

E-mail: business@southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk

Norfolk County Council offers advice and support for your businesses on a range of topics including funding, trading standards and procurement.

They also provide a bespoke service called Locate Norfolk to businesses moving to, or relocating in the Norfolk area. Support can include information on funding opportunities, potential customers and suppliers, the optimum location, suitable premises, useful business networks and local authority contacts.

Eligibility: Available for all stages of business including businesses not yet trading.

Website: http://www.norfolk.gov.uk/Business/index.htm

Tel: 0344 800 8020

E-mail: information@norfolk.gov.uk

MENTA provide a range of support to all businesses from pre-start through to existing businesses under 12 months of age.

This includes fully funded start-up programmes covering business planning, marketing and social media, sales and book-keeping via a blend of on-line workshops and 1 to 1 support.

MENTA also run networking events and provide business space and co-working opportunities across Suffolk and Norfolk.

Support is also available via Multiply Suffolk programme developing Adult Numeracy in adults 19+, providing support with business finance, work related numeracy, money management, financial wellbeing and more.

Eligibility: Available for pre-start, start-up and early stage businesses (trading less than 12 months).

Website: http://www.menta.org.uk/

Tel: 0800 085 5090

E-mail: heretohelp@menta.org.uk

Are you a digital creative business looking to launch your brand?

Ideas Factory NUA works with businesses looking for a fresh perspective. The centre offers a specialist incubation environment and houses a User Experience Lab, which is fully equipped with industry-standard monitoring equipment, including Morae software and a Tobii eye-tracking system.  

Eligibility: Available for all stages of business including businesses not yet trading within the digital creative sector.

Website: https://norwichuni.ac.uk/for-business/

Tel: 01603 610561

E-mail: ideasfactory@nua.ac.uk

The HGN Programme is for small business owners, or their senior management, looking for clarity and direction to grow their businesses to 6-figures in the next 12 months.

If you are interested in the programme, during your time on the course, you will be involved in:

Critical skills workshops – run by New Anglia Growth Hub’s High Growth Network Facilitator, Roxy Seabourne, who specialises in Business Strategy, Business Finance, Marketing and Sales.

Peer learning and networking – you will be connected with other small business leaders through facilitated group video calls, in which you can share your experiences on the module content, and work together to develop your Business Plan.

1:1 support – you will receive additional 1:1 support in the form on scheduled Zoom sessions to help you apply what you learn, and they will support you to develop your unique Business Plan. The sessions are designed to keep you accountable, challenge your thinking and a great way to sound out the viability of your ideas.

Eligibility: Available for businesses that have been trading for at least 12 months, who currently employ 3 or more staff, and be looking to increase their revenue to a 6- or 7-figure in the next 12 months.

Website: https://www.newangliagrowthhub.co.uk/scale-up/high-growth-programme/

Ngage Solutions Ltd deliver publicly funded programmes for businesses, including growth focussed projects, low carbon, rural and senior management peer networking support.  Some programmes may include grant management as part of the package.

Advice and support are also available for not-for-profit and public sector organisations.

Eligibility: Available for all stages of business including businesses not yet trading.

Website: https://www.ngagesolutions.co.uk/

Tel: 01494 927131

E-mail: info@ngagesolutions.co.uk

Contact form: Ngage

Nwes offers one-to-one business advice, a range of business and personal skills training courses, and serviced business premises, for those wishing to start or grow a business. Business support is available in Norfolk and Suffolk and will be tailored to individual needs but often includes business planning, legal structure, the effective and efficient operation of the business, marketing plans, support in preparing finance proposals, identifying cost savings, environmental planning, and key steps to starting-up. Nwes also provide Start Up Loans for London, Norfolk, and Suffolk

Eligibility: Available for all stages of business including businesses not yet trading.

Website: https://www.nwes.org.uk/

Tel: 01603 227840

E-mail: info@nwes.org.uk

Online contact form: https://www.nwes.org.uk/contact/

Are you thinking about starting a new business or becoming self-employed?

Free, fully funded, short courses offered online, providing an introduction to the key considerations of starting a business or becoming self-employed.  Learners will gain two enterprise qualifications, and receive ongoing support for three months afterwards.  To register your interest, complete the online form.

Following completion of the course, participants have the option to join further free programmes focussed on digital promotion and digital skills in the business, covering areas including using digital technologies and software for word processing, presentations and spreadsheets and digital skills career progression.

They also provide access to a fully funded, self-paced online Functional Skills course to help people build on their abilities in English and Maths, equivalent to a GCSE qualification.

For ex-offenders who have left the prison service, Through the Gate Support, provides learners with the opportunity to gain a recognised business qualification.  Through a series of engaging sessions, the course covers all the basics of starting up, and supports learners to work with other specialist ex-offender agencies as part of their resettlement journey.  To make an enquiry contact the team by emailing referrals@kickoffinbusiness.co.uk. 

Eligibility: Available for people over the age of 19, not started trading or within the first 12 months of trading.

Website: https://www.kickoffinbusiness.co.uk

General contact form: https://www.kickoffinbusiness.co.uk/contact

The Connected Innovation programme connects a range of partners, research centres, universities, business communities and investors that wish to support the latest innovations across Norfolk and Suffolk. The connected innovation platform brings together the latest innovation resources and provides them in one place, including information on support, funding, mentoring and investment.

Website: https://connectedinnovation.co.uk/

Through the Centre and network of local libraries, people starting or growing a business can access a range of advice and support services such as workshops and events, a range of e-books, online resources and market research intelligence databases (British Standards Online, COBRA, EMIS, FAME, Grantfinder, IBISWorld, Innovation DB, Kompass EasyBusiness, Local Data Company, Mintel, NewsBank, Statista) as well as appointments for one to one advice including guidance for protecting intellectual property.  Some resources require you to have a library card, which can be issued free of charge.

Eligibility: Available for all stages of business including businesses not yet trading.

Website:  https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/bipcnorfolk

Contact form: https://www.bipckent.org.uk/contact-us/

E-mail: bipcnorfolk@norfolk.gov.uk 

Anglia Ruskin University provides a wide range of business support services including Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, contract research, consultancy to solve business challenges, access to student and graduate talent with live briefs, support with clinical trials and meeting/conference room hire. The university is also a provider of degree apprenticeships to help bring talent, skills, ideas and enthusiasm to your organisation.  

Eligibility: Available to all stages of business. Eligibility criteria for individual programmes can be found on the website.

Website: https://aru.ac.uk/business-employers 

Tel: 01223 695878 

E-mail: business@aru.ac.uk  

Support is available to SMEs, supply chain businesses and third sector organisations to protect them from cyber-crime. In partnership with the police force, the centre provides information and guidance on emerging cyber threats, criminal trends, best practice for cyber resilience and new technology and steps to take in protecting your business, staff and clients. Different membership levels are available, including a free membership package. Testing and training services are also offered at a cost. 

Eligibility: Available to all stages of business. 

Website: https://www.ecrcentre.co.uk/  

Online contact form: https://www.ecrcentre.co.uk/contact-us

Businesses looking to apply for Innovate UK funding, or who have previously been turned down, can access support from mentors and bid writing coaches, to help you build a strong application for funding opportunities for your innovation project.

They can help if you have an idea just in the early stages, and will work with you to develop it further towards a stage where you are ready to apply for funding.  There are also sector specialists and access to academic expertise where needed. All applicants, mentors and coaches all sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) at the start of the project.

Support is funded by Norfolk County Council and Suffolk County Council and delivered through a range of partners.  For further details and to express your interest, visit the website.

Eligibility: Businesses that have started trading

Website: https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/business/grants-and-funding/innovation-grant-mentoring

The Made Smarter Adoption programme connects manufacturers in the East of England to digital tools, innovations, and skills that can revolutionise their operations. Made Smarter Adoption East of England aims to drive growth among the region’s manufacturing businesses.

Support available via the programme includes:

- Specialist Advice and Support
- Grant Funding - Up to 50% match funding (Maximum of £20,000) is available for equipment and/or specialist advice to implement projects
- Guidance on creating an effective digital roadmap to ensure the technology is taking your business in the right direction
- Organisational & Workforce Development Specialists
- Internships

Eligibility: Any small and medium-sized manufacturing businesses in the East of England (Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire)

Website: https://www.madesmarter.uk/adoption/in-my-region/east-of-england/

Innovate UK Business Growth (was Innovate UK EDGE) is a key part of the UK innovation agency’s investment in the innovative businesses that drive economic growth. It provides intensive, specialist-led support to ambitious innovation-led businesses to help them grow and scale.

Each high-potential, innovative business is supported by a dedicated innovation & growth specialist local to them. The specialist will consider a business in the round and, working closely with its leadership, identify the most productive ways to accelerate its growth. This could be by working on the core business plan and value proposition or through exploiting innovation, accessing funding and finance, and/or expanding into new markets.

In particular, the specialists can help companies to develop an innovation-driven business plan; understand how to protect and create value from their intellectual property; develop a strategy to fund and finance their innovation, growth and be investment ready; connect to new partners for commercial, technology and R&D collaborations; and discover opportunities in overseas markets learning how to capitalise on them.

Innovate UK Business Growth  also offer the Scaleup Programme for enhanced support, the Global Incubator Programme and the Global Business Innovation Programme.

Eligibility: Available for businesses that have begun trading (innovative businesses, looking to grow and scale their business in the UK market and internationally) with up to 500 employees (250 in Northern Ireland). It is not suitable for pre-starts, or for those businesses who have no ambition to grow through innovation or internationalisation.

Website: https://iuk.ktn-uk.org/business-growth/

Online Contact Form: https://iuk.ktn-uk.org/business-growth-contact/ 

Tel: 0300 123 3066  (National Gateway)

Do you need legal advice? Lawyers for your business is a scheme offering a free half-hour consultation with a member of the Law Society.

The lawyer will not be able to deal with existing legal issues but can help with general legal enquiries about starting a business, employing people, contracts with customers and suppliers, taking on leased premises, business structures, health and safety and raising finance. When contacting a solicitor for a 30-minute free consultation you must advise you are calling regarding the Lawyers for your business scheme and use the named contact on the sheet sent to you from the service.

Eligibility: Available for businesses trading up to 12 months including businesses not yet trading.

Website: https://solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk/

Tel: 020 7320 5650 - If you need help with using the find a solicitor section, Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm

E-mail: lfyb@lawsociety.org.uk - please include postcode or town/city in the e-mail.

For solicitors interested in joining the LFYB scheme
https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/career-advice/individual-accreditations/lawyers-for-your-business

The University of Suffolk Legal Advice Centre provides legal advice to new businesses and start-ups on topics such as business structure and what structure would be best suited for your proposed business, Intellectual property and also practical legal guidance. To ensure we are able to reach all of our clients, it is possible to request either a meeting in person or an appointment online. We provide an initial one-hour consultation and then written advice will be provided to you within 7-10 days by our student advisors, who are supervised by qualified solicitors. 

In order to make an enquiry and obtain an appointment, complete the following form:

University of Suffolk Legal Advice Centre Enquiry Form (office.com)

Eligibility: Pre start and start up businesses.

Website: https://www.uos.ac.uk/about/legal-advice-centre/what-we-do/

Closing Date: Open term time only.

Tel: 01473 338000

Email:  legaladvicecentre@uos.ac.uk 

A service set up by UEA Law Clinic to provide free advice to SMEs in Norfolk and Suffolk. Once per month run a day of advice sessions where SME owners and managers can come to the UEA Law Clinic for some individual help and advice on issues that are troubling them. Meetings are by appointment and last approximately 45 minutes each.

They can offer help and advice on most issues facing businesses such as: Setting up a company or business - things to think about, problems with suppliers/another business, growth, debts, marketing, selling or acquiring a business or company.

Your meeting will be free of charge. Some advisors may charge for undertaking further work. However, they will discuss with you what your options are.

Eligibility: Available to all stages of business.

Closing date: Open term time only. Check website for term dates.

Website: https://lawclinic.uea.ac.uk/business-clinic/

Online Contact form: https://app.geckoform.com/public/#/modern/21FO0097ro85xt007u4j37ryhf

Your appointment will take place at UEA Law Clinic on the UEA Campus in Norwich and will be free of charge. Exceptionally, they may agree to advise you on Teams.

Offers grants between £25k and £100k, with a maximum intervention rate of 20%. Project spend has to be at least £125k for the minimum grant award of £25k. The grant is for businesses with ambitions to grow and reduce their carbon footprint and increase productivity. The scheme will fund capital developments. There will also be consultancy to develop a decarbonisation plan as part of the grant.

Eligibility: Established businesses that are actively trading (with at least 2 years' worth of accounts), employ less than 250 people and a turnover of less than EUR 50m or an annual balance less than EUR 43m. Ineligible sectors: Primary agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, aquaculture, forestry, coal, steel, shipbuilding, care, education, retail, hospitality or accommodation. 

Closing date: The deadline for the grant is July 2025.

Website: https://www.newangliagrowthhub.co.uk/grant-to-support-your-transition-to-net-zero/

Tel: 0300 333 6536 

Email: info@newangliagrowthhub.co.uk  

Grant to encourage businesses to become more competitive by investing in innovative projects to develop better products, processes and services. The grant can fund up to 45% of supported project costs. The minimum grant is £2,500 and the maximum is £25,000. The minimum project size is £5,555.

Eligibility: Available for businesses that have begun trading. Available to all businesses including pre-revenue to help them to get to market.

Closing date: July 2025.

Website: https://newanglia.co.uk/grant/growth-through-innovation-fund/

Tel: 0300 333 6536

E-mail: info@newangliagrowthhub.co.uk

If you want to kick-start a new product or idea, New Anglia Capital may be able to help.

New Anglia Capital is a co-investment fund that brings businesses and “angel investors” together to help embark upon viable new products and innovative ideas, into thriving new businesses, as well as support existing high-growth companies.

Angel investors invest 50% of the risk capital in successful businesses, with New Anglia Capital providing the remaining 50%. The aim is to encourage economic development by job creation in early-stage businesses with high potential in key sectors where there is strength in the region.

Eligibility: Available for innovative businesses that have begun trading (especially within the engineering, life sciences, agri-tech, health, energy, communications, and digital sectors).

Website: https://angliacapitalgroup.co.uk/

Contact form: https://www.angliacapitalgroup.co.uk/contact

E-mail: info@angliacapitalgroup.co.uk or apply@angliacapitalgroup.co.uk

Are you looking to explore your loan & equity options?

FSE offers a range of loans and equity finance for innovative growth companies. You need to be able to demonstrate the potential for significant growth and investment-ready to apply. You can find more information on the funds available via the website.

Eligibility: Available to businesses that have begun trading.

Website: https://www.thefsegroup.com/

Tel: 01276 608 510

E-mail: fundingenquiries@thefsegroup.com

Offers business finance to businesses who might struggle to gain access to finance through mainstream lenders. Accredited business support partners of British Business Bank offering Start Up Loans, Recovery Loans and Growth Loans to businesses in the South East and East of England.

Business growth loans range from £20,000 - £150,000 and are available to businesses who have been trading for at least 24 months who are looking to grow. Some earlier stage businesses can be considered.

Website: https://www.letsdobusinessfinance.co.uk/business-loans

Tel: 0844 415 2272

E-mail: info@ldbgroup.co.uk

If you are an established, incorporated company looking for a loan, the East of England Regional Growth Loan Scheme offers anything from £50,000 to £500,000.

Eligibility: Available for businesses trading over 24 months with a minimum turnover of 100k and growth potential.

Website: https://www.thefsegroup.com/fund/east-england-regional-growth-loan-schemes

Tel: 01473 722 910

E-mail: allen.hall@thefsegroup.com

Broadland & South Norfolk Council
Provide information and advice for those interested in selling to the Council. Details available online.
https://www.southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk/council-financial-information/procurement-business-council 
E-mail: procurement@breckland.gov.uk 

Norfolk County Council
Provides information on current tender opportunities.
https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/business/supplying-norfolk-county-council/tenders-contracts-and-procurement
If you are having problems accessing your account email sourcingteam@norfolk.gov.uk or call 01603 223299
For enquiries about using the website please contact the In-Tend Support team: 0845 557 8079 / 0114 407 0065

New Anglia Growth Hub
Has a dedicated section for local news and events.
http://www.newangliagrowthhub.co.uk/events/

Chamber of Commerce for Norfolk
Hold regular networking events throughout the year. membership fees apply.
http://norfolkchamber.co.uk/events

Nwes
Events Feed.
https://www.nwes.org.uk/events/

Norfolk Business & Intellectual Property Centre (BIPC) Events
A year round program of events including SpotlightOn workshops, webcasts, marketplaces, and one to one advice sessions with Genix and New Anglia Growth Hub.
https:/www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/business-and-intellectual-property-centre-norfolk-7488538381

South Norfolk & Broadland Council
Offers information about commercial premises online or contact the Property Team.
https://www.southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk/business-space
Tel: 01603 980441
Email: business@southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk

Nwes
Enterprise Agency, working across the East of England, provide advice, training, virtual office facilities, easy in/easy out managed workspace. Support available for pre-start and established business.
https://www.nwes.org.uk/workspace/
Tel: 0845 4374 465