helping business in flintshire

Everything you need to know to do business in Flintshire

This profile contains information for enterprises in Flintshire, from pre-start ups to those in business and seeking sources of further local support and advice. It looks at the area in terms of its business environment, listing relevant business support services, information for those keen to apply for funding, join networks and find new contacts.

Support and resources available to businesses in Flintshire

This section outlines the business and financial support, advice and resources available in Flintshire, including workspace, business networks, professional services, business directories, universities and colleges, libraries, and newspapers and publications.

Business support and advice

There are various sources of business support and advice available for start ups and existing businesses. The following are available in Flintshire:

The Welsh Assembly Government’s Flexible Support for Business programme provides information, advice and support to new and existing businesses throughout Wales which is accessed via the telephone, website and local centres. It also signposts business support services and events in a local area.
Tel: 03000 603000
Website: www.business-support-wales.gov.uk

Flintshire County Council signposts advice and support available to those starting or running a business in the county.
Tel: (01352) 752121
Website: www.flintshire.gov.uk/webcont/newrealweb.nsf/vwa_areas/Busi ness?OpenDocument

Chester, Ellesmere Port and North Wales Chamber of Commerce offers support, information and representation for local business owners.
Tel: (01492) 576776
Website: www.cepnwchamber.org.uk

Menter a Busnes provides support especially to Welsh speakers, looking to start up in business and existing businesses throughout Wales.
Tel: (01352) 707830
Website: www.menterabusnes.com

Opportunity Wales provides e-commerce support and advice to small businesses in Objective One areas of Wales.
Tel: 0845 850 0888
Website: www.opportunitywales.co.uk

Venture Wales provides assistance and advice to start ups and existing businesses located in Wales including training, workshops, mentoring and support aimed at micro start ups, growth start ups and high-growth start ups.
Tel: 0845 045 3150
Website: www.venturewales.com

Ethnic Business Support Programme provides support to ethnic minorities based in Wales looking to start up in business.
Tel: 0800 028 8211
Website: www.ebsp.org

Enter Disability Wales provides a range of business support to disabled people in Wales looking to start a business.
Tel: 0800 783 7315
Website: www.enterdisabilitywales.co.uk

G2E provides a range of support for students and recent graduates based in Wales wishing to start a business, including the G2E business start up programme providing workshops, training, mentoring and grant funding.
Tel: 0845 601 0505
Website: www.g2e.co.uk

Technium Network provides support to early stage businesses looking to become more competitive by developing and adopting leading-edge technology, product and process innovation. Support is via information, advice and managed workspace.
Tel: (01443) 845500
Website: www.technium.co.uk

Becauseyoucan is a website which provides a range of information and support to start ups and existing businesses throughout Wales.
Website: www.becauseyoucan.com

Financial support

There are various sources of financial assistance available for start ups and existing businesses. The following are available in Flintshire:

Trosi is a scheme provided by Menter a Busnes, providing a range of support for existing businesses and entrepreneurs based in Objective One areas in Wales interested in new product development, including information, guidance, advice and networking.
Tel: (01352) 707835
Website: www.menterabusnes.com/english/5/38/trosi.html

Agrisgôp is a scheme provided by Menter a Busnes and ADAS, providing assistance to farmers throughout Wales looking to develop their business ideas.
Website: www.menterabusnes.com/english/5/122/agrisg-p.html

Managing Farms with IT is a free training programme provided by Menter a Busnes and further education colleges, providing six two-hour on-farm visits to help farmers throughout Wales make better use of computers to manage their business.
Tel: (01970) 636295
Website: www.menterabusnes.com/english/5/124/managing-farms-with-it. html

Farming Connect provides assistance to farming families through support, advice and training to improve business performance, create opportunities for diversification and increase long-term sustainability. They also operate two grant schemes:

• Food Processing and Marketing Grant: funding of up to 40% to help primary producers located in Objective One areas of Wales add value to their businesses.
• Processing and Marketing Small Grant: funding of up to £40,000 to help small businesses based in Wales further develop value-added food products, increase competitiveness, increase market share and process more food within Wales.

Tel: 0845 600 0813
Website: http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/environmentcountryside/farmi ngconnect/?lang=en

Wales Spinout Programme provides a range of assistance to people located in Wales looking to start a business including; locating premises, funding and expertise.
Website: www.spinoutwales.co.uk

Finance Wales provides investment funding to start ups and early stage businesses, as well as those looking to expand, based in Wales. It also provides the Wales Creative IP Fund, which provides gap funding for Wales-based businesses in creative sectors such as film, TV, media or music.
Tel: 0800 587 4140
Website: www.financewales.co.uk

Xénos is a Welsh business angel network operated by Finance Wales and can put businesses looking for investment in touch with potential business angels.
Website: www.xenos.co.uk

Bilingual Sign Scheme provides grant funding of up to 50% (for projects ranging between £250 and £1,000) to encourage the provision of bilingual signs for businesses based in Wales.
Website: http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/tourism/grants/grant_schemes/ bilingual_sign/?lang=en

Access Small Grants provides grant funding of between £2,500 and £10,000 towards costs for tourism-based businesses in Wales looking to improve access and facilities for the disabled.
Tel: 0845 010 3300
Website: http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/tourism/grants/grant_schemes/ access_small_grants/?lang=en

Environmental Goods and Services (EGS) Wales provides the following grant funding for businesses based in Objective One areas of Wales:

• Up to £1,500 towards the costs for specialist advice.
• Up to £10,000 (to a maximum of 50%) towards the costs for project implementation.
• Up to £4,000 (to a maximum of 50%) towards the costs for specialist consultancy through the Innovation Advice Grant.
• Up to £15,000 (to a maximum of £50%) towards the costs to help make an idea into reality through the Innovation Implementation Grant.

Tel: 0845 010 3300
Website: http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/businessandeconomy/finance/e nvironmentalgoods/?lang=en

Assembly Investment Grant (AIG) provides funding of between £5,001 and £75,000 (between 7.5% and 50%) towards capital investment projects for start ups and existing businesses based in Wales.
Tel: 0845 010 3300
Website: http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/businessandeconomy/finance/i nvestment/AIG/?lang=en

Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) Cymru Wales provides grant funding of between 10% and 50% of eligible costs for capital investment. The scheme is open to starts up and existing businesses looking to expand or restructure based in assisted areas in Wales.
Tel: 0845 010 3300
Website: http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/businessandeconomy/finance/i nvestment/RSA/?lang=en

SMARTCymru provides grant funding for businesses based in Wales to help with technical and commercial feasibility, industrial research, commercial exploitation and pre-competitive development or design and development.
Tel: 0845 010 3300
Website: http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/businessandeconomy/finance/s martcymru/?lang=en

Workspace

The following resources provide details about available business premises in Flintshire:

Flintshire County Council provides a site and property register listing available industrial and commercial premises in the county.
Tel: (01352) 702013
Website: www.flintshire.gov.uk/econdev/busenq.nsf/Enquiryfrm?OpenFor m

Business networks

Business networks can help new start ups and existing businesses make useful contacts. The following resources provide details about local business networks operating in Flintshire:

Chester, Ellesmere Port and North Wales Chamber of Commerce organises a range of events and networking opportunities for local business owners.
Tel: (01492) 576776
Website: www.cepnwchamber.org.uk (click on ‘events’)

The North Wales Business Club organises networking events for businesses in North Wales.
Website: www.nwbc.org.uk

The Welsh Assembly Government’s Flexible Support for Business programme provides a list of networking, training and workshops on a range of topics for businesses throughout North Wales.
Tel: 03000 603000
Website: www.business-support-wales.gov.uk/events_and_training.aspx

Professional services

Accountants and solicitors provide an essential service for those starting up and running a business. Accountants can assist with day-to-day paperwork and ensure relevant tax deadlines and regulations are met. Solicitors offer valuable guidance on starting up and operating legally and can assist if there is a dispute between the business and another party.

Find an accountant in your area by clicking on:
Website: www.chartered-accountants.co.uk

Find a solicitor in your area by clicking on:
Website: www.lawyerlocator.co.uk

Business directories

Business directories can be used to identify similar businesses operating in the area, potential competitors and suppliers. The following resources provide details about local business directories operating in Flintshire:

Flintshire County Council provides a directory of businesses and services in the county which is searchable by town, category and alphabet.
Tel: (01352) 752121
Website: www.flintshire.gov.uk/webcont/newrealweb.nsf/vwa_areas/Busi ness?OpenDocument

North Wales Index provides a directory of local businesses and services in North Wales.
Website: www.northwalesindex.co.uk

Wales-biz.co.uk provides a directory of businesses and services throughout North Wales, which can be searched by business type or location.
Tel: (01490) 413513
Website: www.wales-biz.co.uk

The Contract Shop provides a searchable database of businesses and services throughout Wales.
Website: www.contractshop.co.uk

Walesweb.co.uk maintains a directory of businesses throughout Wales searchable by names, business type and town.
Tel: 0800 980 2425
Website: www.walesweb.co.uk

Matren provides listings of businesses and services throughout Wales.
Tel: 0870 991 1317
Website: www.matren.co.uk/wales-business-directory.htm

The following national contact directories can also provide details of the businesses currently operating in Flintshire:

Thomson Local
Website: www.thomsonlocal.com

Yellow Pages
Website: www.yell.com

Universities and colleges

Universities and colleges can provide a good source of business support through their business schools and corporate services. The following universities and colleges are located in or near Flintshire:

• Deeside College, under the Knowledge Exploitation Fund (KEF) project offer a range of business support services, training and consultancy to local businesses.

  Deeside College
  Tel: (01244) 831531
  Website: www.deeside.ac.uk

• Welsh College of Horticulture provides a range of services for start ups and existing businesses via its Northop Business Centre, including consultancy, distance learning and training. They also, under the Knowledge Exploitation Fund (KEF) project run the Entrepreneur Scholarship Scheme which provides a range of support to business start ups, including advice, consultancy and financial support.

  Welsh College of Horticulture
  Tel: (01352) 841000
  Website: www.wcoh.ac.uk

Libraries

Libraries are a good source of free information for small business owners. They can provide access to IT facilities, lifelong learning courses and local business directories, and many larger libraries also stock market reports and provide their own business advice services.

Flintshire Library and Information Service
Library HQ
County Hall
Mold
CH7 6NW
Tel: (01352) 704411

Go to http://library.wales.org/librarydetails/libraries.php for more information about libraries in these areas and across Wales.

Newspapers and publications

Local newspapers and publications can be used to identify advertising opportunities. The following newspapers and publications are available in Flintshire:

• The Flintshire Standard is a free newspaper published every Thursday covering local news and sport in the area. It has circulation figures of 31,424.
  Tel: (01352) 707707
  Website: www.flintshirestandard.co.uk
• The Deeside Chronicle, Mold and Buckley Chronicle, and Flint and Holywell Chronicle are published weekly covering local news and sport in North East Wales.
  Tel: (01352) 755455
  Website: http://icnorthwales.icnetwork.co.uk/ourprint/weekly/
• The Daily Post features local news, business, sport and entertainment features for North Wales. It has circulation figures of 37,395.
  Tel: (01492) 574452
  Website: www.dailypost.co.uk
• The North Wales Weekly News is published every Thursday and features local news, business, sport and entertainment features for North Wales. It has circulation figures of 17,817.
  Tel: (01492) 584321
  Website: http://icnorthwales.icnetwork.co.uk/weeklynews
• Yr Herald Cymraeg is a Welsh language supplement in the Welsh edition of the Daily Post, published every Wednesday covering local news in North Wales.
  Tel: (01492) 574452
  Website: http://icnorthwales.icnetwork.co.uk/herald
• Business in Wales is a business magazine for Wales, covering topical business news and features.
  Tel: (029) 2058 3522
  Website: http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0300business
• Wales Business Insider is a business magazine for businesses in Wales, covering topical business news and articles. It has a circulation of 7,171.
  Tel: (029) 2064 7517
  Website: www.newsco.com/productsandservices/archive/wbi

Statutory business contacts in Flintshire

HM Revenue & Customs

When starting up it is essential to contact the local HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) office to find out about tax and National Insurance (NI) obligations, which vary depending on the nature of the business, number of employees, turnover and so on.

HM Revenue & Customs office North Wales area
Tel: (01978) 297855
Website: www.hmrc.gov.uk

Local authority

Flintshire County Council will be able to offer advice about the payment of business rates, any licences required and how to register a business.

Flintshire County Council
County Hall
Mold
CH7 6NB
Tel: (01352) 752121

Business rates

Flintshire County Council collects business rates. To calculate the business rate, the rateable value of the business property is multiplied by the rate poundage.

In Flintshire, the rate is set at 48.9p.

For example, if the rateable value of the property is £10,000, and the rate poundage is 48.9p, the business rate would be calculated as:

£10,000 x 0.4890 = £4,890

Therefore the business rate for the year would be £4,890.

Some businesses may be eligible for small business rate relief. Go to www.mybusinessrates.gov.uk/wales for more information.

Other useful Flintshire facts

• From the 2001 Census data the proportion of unqualified people in Flintshire is 3.7% lower than the average for Wales, at 29.3% against a national average of 33%. The area’s percentage of people qualified at NVQ1 or equivalent is 3.5% higher than the national figure, at 19% compared with the average for Wales which stands at 15.5%.
• The proportion of people employed in Flintshire is 7.4% higher than the average for Wales, at 62.6% against a national average of 55.2%. The proportions of people who are economically inactive and permanently sick or disabled are lower than the national averages.

References

UK Statistics Authority
Website: www.statistics.gov.uk

The Census 2001 data can provide useful statistics including the demographics of local areas and nationally.
Website: www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/census2001.asp

Office for National Statistics (ONS) has useful information on spending patterns and income in their Family Spending – A Report on the 2007 Expenditure and Food Survey.
Website: www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_social/Family_Spendin g_2007/FamilySpending2008_web.pdf

Online information publisher UpMyStreet can provide analysis of an area defined by its postcode, outlining education facilities, the property market, consumer classification types and public transport provision. This can be useful when building up a picture of the economic health and consumer wealth of a particular area.
Website: www.upmystreet.com

Sources of further information

Flintshire County Council
County Hall
Mold
CH7 6NB
Tel: (01352) 752121
Website: www.flintshire.gov.uk

The Welsh Assembly Government’s Flexible Support for Business programme supports those who want to start, maintain or grow a business in Wales.
Tel: 03000 603000
Website: www.business-support-wales.gov.uk

Welsh Assembly Government
Cathays Park
Cardiff
CF10 3NQ
Tel: 0845 010 3300
Website: www.wales.gov.uk

The Prince’s Trust helps young people between the ages of 18 and 30 who are unemployed, under-employed or of limited means to start their own business.
Baltic House
Mount Stuart Square
Cardiff
CF10 5FH
Tel: (029) 2043 7000
Website: www.princes-trust.org.uk

PRIME Cymru helps people aged 50 or over to start their own business through a programme of guidance, advice and information.
16 Stone Street
Llandovery
SA20 0JP
Tel: 0800 587 4085
Website: www.prime-cymru.co.uk

Shell LiveWIRE offers free information and advice to people aged 16 to 30 who are interested in starting their own business or exploring their career options.
Tel: 0845 757 3252
Website: www.shell-livewire.org

Young Enterprise runs a series of programmes to support and educate young people who want to set up their own business or gain experience in enterprise.
Pencoed Technology Park
Pencoed
CF35 5HZ
Tel: (01656) 864969
Website: www.young-enterprise.org.uk
This information is meant as a starting point only. Whilst all reasonable efforts have been made, the publisher makes no warranties that the information is accurate and up-to-date and will not be responsible for any errors or omissions in the information nor any c onsequences of any errors or omissions. Professional advice should be sought where appropriate.

© Cobweb Information Ltd 2009