Finance
Most greeting card companies need finance, if not as start up capital, then for cash flow purposes. The banks are usually the first port of call, but also investigate what grants and loans may be available from the government and charitable trusts. For instance, the Princes Trust offers business advice and start up loans for young people aged 18-30 tel: 0800 842 842.
Help and Advice
The government's help and advice for new businesses is centred on Business Links. These are local partnerships, which bring together the business support services of the DTI, Training and Enterprise Councils, enterprise agencies, Chambers of Commerce and other local bodies.
Business Link's No-Nonsense Guides have been produced in conjunction with government departments and regional development agencies in order offer businesses clear and jargon-free advice about complex key issues.
- In England there are 85 partnerships with 240 outlets providing integrated advisory services tailored to the needs of businesses covering all aspects of innovation, design, technology, finance, packaging and export.
The Business Link Signpost line will put you in touch with your local Business Link, tel: 0845 600 9006, www.businesslink.gov.uk. - In London, Up and Running is a local Business Link initiative and subsidised non-profit making scheme providing advice, information, support and discounted services for new businesses, tel: 0845 604 6040, www.businesslink4london.com.
- In Scotland, Scottish Gateway, tel: 0845 609 6611, and Scottish Highlands and Islands, tel: 01463 715 400 both provide business advice.
- In Wales, advice is available through Business Connect, tel: 0845 796 9798, a network of business support centres.
The British Library has an huge information resource at its online Business and IP Centre at www.bl.uk/bipc/index.html
It also offers a wide programme of free or reasonably priced seminars and workshop events.
The Ladder Club is a support network of graphic designers and photographers who have become publishers. It is organised by Lynn Tait, of the Lynn Tait Gallery and membership is free of charge. As members gain more experience, they are able to help newer publishers learn the ropes. It also provides seminars, bringing together paper and board suppliers, specialist printers and experts in the field of greeting card publishing. Lynn Tait 01702 713 347.
Arts Connection
Arts Connection is a partnership between The Prince's Trust and Arts Council, England, East, supported by the European Social Fund.
In the past, small-scale creative industries have been seen as high risk investments by high street banks and other traditional finance sources. Arts Connection aims to support these young businesspeople through their start-up phases to emerge as low-risk, sustainable enterprises that can play an important part in the region's future economic success.
Arts Connection focuses on unemployed young people aged between 18 and 30 years who are interested in turning their creative skills into a viable enterprise. It provides Test Marketing Grants, business start up grants, specialist mentoring and benefits and opportunities additional to those already provided by The Prince's Trust. www.artsconnection.co.uk.
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