Business advice

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Business advice

Advice for local businesses

Our borough is home to thousands of businesses, ranging from multinational corporations to small family firms.

The Council works to:

  • promote a vibrant and sustainable economy
  • provide support to business through commissioned services
  • promote business support agencies

Coronavirus (COVID-19) - advice for businesses

Useful Information

Who to talk to for advice

Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)

FSB has created a very useful hub that answers questions for small businesses. Visit the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) website for more information.

GOV.UK

GOV.UK is the government's online resource for businesses. It contains information about starting up and running a business in the UK, including help if you are self employed or a sole trader.

Go to gov.uk.

Business Support Helpline

The Business Support Helpline offers advice and guidance to new and existing businesses including information about grants and loans.

For more information call their free telephone number 0800 998 1098 or email [email protected].

The London Business Hub

The London Business Hub helps businesses access support across London.

Go to London Business Hub.

Portobello Business Centre

Portobello Business Centre is the borough’s enterprise agency, partially funded by The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. They offer information, free advice and confidential guidance about:

  • accessing finance
  • debt and cash-flow management
  • recruitment and redundancy
  • support for innovation or changing your business model
  • accessing local supply chains and finding new local business opportunities

For more information telephone 020 7460 5050.

Go to Portobello Business Centre.

The Prince's Trust

The Prince’s Trust Enterprise Programme supports unemployed people and those working fewer than 16 hours per week, aged 18-30, to decide whether their business ideas are viable, and if self-employment is right for them.

The programme offers mentoring support to:

  • start a business
  • find jobs
  • access education or training
  • secure financial support

For more information telephone 0800 842842.

Go to The Prince's Trust.

​Mentorsme

Mentorsme connects companies with mentoring organisations that can support and guide their growth.

Go to Mentorsme.

Kensington and Chelsea Chamber of Commerce

The combined Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster Chamber of Commerce is committed to:

  • helping members to grow their businesses
  • sustaining the local business community
  • promoting networking opportunities

For more information telephone 020 7795 0304 or visit the KCW Chamber of Commerce website.

Finance

Portobello Business Centre

Portobello Business Centre is the borough’s enterprise agency, partially funded by The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. They offer information, free advice and confidential guidance from qualified experts.

For more information telephone 020 7460 5050.

Go to Portobello Business Centre.

Start Up Loans

Start Up Loans is a government-backed personal loan for business purposes. You could be eligible to apply for a loan of up to £25,000 if you are:

  • over the age of 18
  • eligible to start a business in the UK
  • a new business owner in the previous 24 months

Go to Start Up Loans.

Newable

Newable (formerly GLE) provides a a range of services including:

  • business loans
  • start-up and expansion advice
  • real estate management
  • international trade advice
  • digital advice
  • risk management consultancy

Go to Newable.

Business Growth Fund

The Business Growth Fund is a £2.5 billion equity investment fund backed by five of the largest banks in the UK.

If you have sales of between £5 million and £100 million a year and need growth finance of between £2 million and £10 million, the fund may be able to help.

For more information telephone 0845 266 8860.

Go to Business Growth Fund.

Grow your market

capitalEsourcing

Find opportunities to tender for contracts with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and other London boroughs.

Go to capitalEsourcing.

CompeteFor

CompeteFor is a free service that enables businesses to compete for contracts in public and private sector buying organisations such as Transport for London, Crossrail and the Metropolitan Police.

Go to CompeteFor.

Contracts Finder

Contracts Finder lets you search for information about contracts worth over £10,000 with the government and its agencies.

Go to Contracts Finder.

Exporting is Great

The site contains around 2000 export opportunities worth hundreds of millions of pounds and organised by sector and market.

Go to Exporting is Great.

Open to Export

Open to Export is a community-based business service aimed at helping small and medium sized enterprises with exporting and international trade. The website provides:

  • exporting resources icluding government and specialist organisations
  • forum where business owners can ask questions to the wider community

Go to Open to Export.

GREAT.gov.uk

Trade hub for businesses that helps UK companies to access potential overseas business. It also gives practical advice, preferential deals, a searchable export directory and signposts to further help on winning contracts.

Go to GREAT.gov.uk.

Reducing costs and environmental impact

 

Carbon Trust

The Carbon Trust is a not-for-profit company that helps businesses:

  • cut carbon emissions
  • save energy
  • save money

For more information telephone 020 78324802 or email [email protected].

Go to Carbon Trust.

Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP)

WRAP helps businesses reduce waste, develop sustainable products and use resources in an efficient way.

Go to WRAP.

Innovation

 

The British Library Business & IP (Intellectual Property) Centre

The Business & IP Centre at the British Library provides free business and IP information to innovators and entrepreneurs.

Go to Business and IP Centre.

Innovate UK

Innovate UK is the UK's innovation agency providing access to funding opportunities, advice, events and access to innovation expertise.

Go to Innovate UK.

Skills and training

Environmental Health Training Service

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea delivers low-cost online training to employees and organisations. Courses Include:

  • food safety
  • food allergen control
  • fire safety
  • health and safety
  • infection control
  • personal licence holding
  • customer service

For more information telephone 020 7361 3002 or visit to the Council’s E-learning page.

Portobello Business Centre

Portobello Business Centre offers training to start ups and existing businesses.

For more information telephone 020 7460 5050.

Health at work

London Healthy Workplace Charter

Free support from a local healthy workplace advisor, plus self-assessment tools and accreditation scheme that supports employers to:

  • develop their work environment
  • promote staff health and wellbeing

For more information:

Recruitment

 

Universal Jobmatch

Universal Jobmatch is a service offered through Government Gateway to help businesses find suitable employees.

Go to Universal Jobmatch.

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships can make your organisation more effective, productive and competitive by addressing your skills gaps directly. They are designed to help your employees reach a high level of competency and performance.

Go to Apprenticeships.

Last updated: 1 October 2021