Information, support and advice

  • Business support service for Winchester 

    This FREE service, provided by IncuHive on behalf of Winchester City Council, aims to remove the barriers that stop people from starting and growing a business across the district.

    1:1 sessions with business advisors

    During COVID-19 IncuHive will continue supporting Winchester's business community and they will resume their regular face to face services as soon as possible.

    IncuHive will continue to offer online business support services via their purpose built web platform, if you are a Winchester district business then you can sign-up for free and access a range of workshops, video tutorials, video based 1:1 mentoring and much more to help support your business with challenges and this will be available to businesses until regular face to face services commence again.

    IncuHive offer free 1:1 sessions with a business advisors for any local business. Chat to their in house entrepreneurs about your idea, your struggle or just to have a sounding board with a likeminded person. They are fully inclusive and will support any business with an initial one hour simple business model plan to fully understand your business, motivations and success factors and then set you on a path to gain further support and growth.

    Sign-up here : https://incuhive.co.uk/index.php/mentoring-support-signup

    For any queries, please contact IncuHive directly at hello@IncuHive.co.uk. Alternatively to speak to someone, call 0800 689 3564.

    Investment

    Pitch your business ideas for investment directly from the team at IncuHive.

    They support and invest in a wide range of companies, from start-ups through to those wishing to develop and grow. Many of their supported investments start with a simple 1:1 mentoring discussion or from at a networking event – so it’s really worth engaging with IncuHive on all levels.

    Get in Touch

    IncuHive Winchester can be found at: Westgate Chambers, Staple Gardens, Winchester SO23 8SR

    Via the website: www.incuhive.co.uk

    Email: hello@incuhive.co.uk

    Phone: 0800 689 3564 

    For details of other business networking and support available in the Winchester District please download the PDF to the right of the page.

  • How will a no-deal Brexit affect your business?

     Winchester City Council is seeking information from businesses in the Winchester District about the potential risks for their business posed by a no-deal Brexit. Businesses are encouraged to contact Winchester City Council to share your views. 

    You can fill in the form below or simply send an email to Alison Woods, Business Engagement Manager, at awoods@winchester.gov.uk

    There’s more information about Brexit here https://www.enterprisem3growthhub.co.uk/brexit

    No-deal Brexit Form (pdf, 122kb) pdf

    No-deal Brexit Form (Word) (docx, 179kb)

  • Give an Hour campaign 

    In as little as an hour, you could change the course of a young person’s life just by sharing your story or helping them to understand more about the world of work.  

    The Enterprise M3 Give an hour campaign invites you to make a difference to the young people in your area by giving as little as one hour of your time. They would particularly like to hear from you if you own or work in a small or medium sized business. Hear from some of the employers who are already engaging with young people in their local areas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUR8GmX2BCQ

    It might feel like an hour is too short to have a real impact, but they know from experience that an hour can create new perspectives and inspire new ideas. Just to hear someone’s career story or be able to speak to someone who can listen and give advice. Could you be that someone?  

    Register today at https://www.giveanhour.co.uk/register-your-interest to give an hour and change a life.  

  • Enterprise M3 Growth Hub

    The Enterprise M3 Growth Hub provides free, expert advice and a resource network for new and existing businesses including signposting to a range of business services, information on starting and growing your business and access to a Business Support Helpline.

  • Hampshire Chamber of Commerce 

    The Hampshire Chamber of Commerce is a membership organisation, owned and managed by local businesses whose goal it is to protect and promote business interests. They help to make businesses become more successful by providing networking opportunities, business support and advice.

    To speak to someone directly, call  01329 242 420 or email info@hampshirechamber.co.uk

  • Broadband

    Hampshire County Council (HCC) and Winchester City Council (WCC) are working together to ensure that as many residents and businesses as possible have access to superfast broadband.

    Wave 2 of Hampshire County Council’s Superfast Broadband project will involve upgrading 550 roadside broadband cabinets, by September 2018, connecting an additional 34,000 premises across the county. This will make Superfast Broadband available to 96% of premises in Hampshire. 

    Broadband cabinets have been updated in some postcodes in the following areas across the Winchester District. For a full list of cabinets and postcodes that have recently been upgraded visit: www.hampshiresuperfastbroadband.com/about-the-project/live-cabinets/. 

    The two councils also want to ensure that people are registered on the Hampshire Superfast Broadband website, www.hampshiresuperfastbroadband.com. This is so that Hampshire County Council can keep them updated with project announcements regarding additional funding and upgrades to cabinets. 

    To find out when Superfast Broadband is coming to your area or to join the campaign visit: www.hampshiresuperfastbroadband.com

  • Sparsholt Business Training

    Sparsholt College provides training to business, industry and employers, offering professional accreditation courses as well as one-day workshops and training courses.

    SMEs who don't have enough staff to warrant a specialist course can benefit from workshops and courses with individuals from different sectors and industries, where they can share ideas and best practice with colleagues and bring that back to the workplace. For larger groups, courses can also be run in the workplace.

    Professional qualifications are delivered in small groups by experienced trainers, working to industry body accreditation standards, which are externally verified for quality assurance. A wide range of courses cover a variety of industries.

    To find out more and view the current training calendar go to www.sparsholt.ac.uk/employers/

    To get in touch email:business@sparsholt.ac.uk 

  • Hampshire School for Social Entrepreneurs

    Social enterprise means generating your own income through selling your services and or expertise. The income derived is reinvested in your charitable or social purposes. Action Hampshire gives information and support to social enterprises and also run the Hampshire School for Social Entrepreneurs.

    Action Hampshire understand that the business development needs of social entrepreneurs are very similar to those of private entrepreneurs but there are also key differences such as legal structures available.

    For further information, please contact Action Hampshire.

  • Network with Confidence

    Face to face networking is one of the most productive ways of developing new business relationships and turning them into high quality leads to drive business growth and return on investment.

    Many people may be competent using social media but do not have the face to face skills and confidence to network effectively at business events.

    Enterprise M3 Growth Hub can help you grow your business and return on investment through effective business networking.

  • The Entrepreneur Handbook

    The Entrepreneur Handbook is a UK information website providing expert advice and guides on every aspect of starting and growing a business including sales, finance, marketing and much more.

    Go to the website for more information: http://entrepreneurhandbook.co.uk/

  • The GREAT Way to Grow

    The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has launched a guide for small businesses with advice from other SME's.
     
    The Guide compiles a selection of invaluable pieces of business advice, hints and tips from 34 hand-picked remarkable small British businesses and top entrepreneurs who each reveal handy hints which they believe are pivotal to their success.

    Click here for more information. 

  • Funding Circle

    A peer-to-business lending platform connecting businesses and investors, where businesses get fast business loans and investors earn great returns on their investments. Funding Circle has funded over £570m in business loans so far.

    For more information you can visit their website

  • Starting a business?
  • Need to find a business?

    For local Trading Standards approved traders, go to the Buy With Confidence web pages available in the column on the right.

    The local branch of the Hampshire Chambers of Commerce holds a member directory.

  • Armed Forces Community Covenant

    Winchester City Council has signed an Armed Forces Community Covenant for the Winchester District. We want to encourage all our local businesses and employers to consider how they can help our armed forces in their local area.

    For more information go to www.defenceprivilegecard.co.uk

    Call 01509 233 446 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm) and a member of the Defence Discount Service Team will assist. 

  • Business Fire Safety

    Does your business comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005? Are you aware of your responsibilities as a business owner?

    For more information visit Hantsfire's webpage or email csprotection.admin@hantsfire.gov.uk

    You can also find out more information from the document available to download in the column on the right.