| Link |
Details |
| Advice for Business - Nat West website - MoneySense |
Nat West has produced a useful guide for businesses called 'Trading during the Economic Downturn' which can be downloaded from: |
| Bankruptcy |
If you are worried about bankruptcy, you can get free advice from debt charity Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS). Their online debt counselling service, CCCS Debt Remedy, can assess your situation and if bankruptcy is the best option for you, they will offer all the help and advice you need. |
| Benefits |
Check if you are eligible for Housing or Council Tax benefit, apply for benefits, notify us of a change in your circumstances on line, and find out where you can get independent advice. |
| Business funding |
Small companies may find it difficult to obtain finance from banks as they do not have the adequate security to be accepted, but there is help and support available from other sources. |
| Business Link |
A government-funded website service offering free, independent and impartial advice on starting a business, signposting to a range of different support providers and health checks for established businesses.
|
| Business rescue service |
Business Rescue are a team of professionals with over 20 years' experience in assisting companies of all sizes to deal with matters relating to business recovery and the available solutions, both financial and legal. Their experience has shown that many directors of companies with a problem do not deal with the situation quickly enough, and as a consequence are unable to take advantage of all the options available to them.
For free advice phone 0845 468 2395 or visit their website for more information.
|
| Carbon Trust |
Help for organisations wanting to reduce carbon emissions and develop commercial low carbon technologies.
Phone: 0800 0852 005
|
| Chamber of Commerce |
Suffolk Chamber has teamed up with the Haven Gateway Partnership to create a ‘Support and Funding Opportunities for Business’ brief, which pulls together the key support and funding initiatives that are available to business during the economic downturn. You will find it on their website homepage. |
| Citizens Advice Bureaux |
Citizens Advice Bureau
Risbygate Centre
Bury St Edmunds
Suffolk IP33 1AA
Phone: 01284 753675
www.burystedmundscab.org.uk
Citizens Advice Bureau
Lower Downs Slade
Haverhill
Suffolk
CB9 9EE
Phone: 01440 704012
|
| Council initiatives to help counter the effects of the economic downturn (PDF 95Kb) |
Steps that St Edmundsbury Borough Council are taking to help businesses and individuals through the economic downturn. |
| Council Tax |
Council Tax Benefit helps people on a low income who are having difficulty paying their Council Tax bill. |
| Credit Unions |
Ipswich and Suffolk Credit Union: Credit Unions are financial cooperatives owned and run by members to provide alternatives to banks, building societies and high interest lenders. |
| Debt advice |
If you are struggling to meet the repayments on your loans and credit cards, a debt management plan is one solution. A third party will negotiate with your creditors on your behalf to agree a single, reduced monthly payment towards your debts. Debt management companies offer this service - but can charge hefty fees for doing so. Before entering into any negotiated settlement, make sure that you get free professional debt counselling. The Consumer Credit Counselling Service is a national debt advice charity - they will help you to make sense of your finances and - if appropriate - can set up a debt management plan for you - at Zero cost. |
| Debt Advice Foundation |
A registered national debt advice charity offering free, confidential support and advice to anyone worried about debt. We can help you understand what options are available to you and because we're a charity, you can be sure that our advice is 100% impartial and based solely on what is best for you. |
| Debt advice now |
Free confidential advice for people struggling with their debts. |
| UK trade and Investment |
Delivers UK trade and investment services and supports regional businesses seeking to win a share of the global market. Free and confidential help to overseas-owned companies setting up or expanding in the UK.
|
| Economic Development |
The Economic Development Unit seeks to develop and regenerate the economy and community, with key objectives being to create employment opportunities and secure external funding for the benefit of the Bury St Edmunds, Haverhill and the rural areas of St Edmundsbury. |
| Energy Efficiency |
Information on energy efficiency for both residential and commercial premises. |
| Grants |
Community development grants - supporting voluntary organisations and community groups.
Energy efficiency grants - details of schemes offering discounts on cavity wall and loft insulation.
Housing grants - St Edmundsbury Borough Council offers a range of grants and loans to owner occupiers, landlords and tenants to help fund repair and improvement works to their homes.
Rural Action Plan grants - several projects involve small grants schemes, including towards improvements at post offices and grocery stores; projector and screens for village halls; start-up costs for community cafes and allotments/shared land schemes; and more.
|
| Housing |
Information and advice on Housing benefit, low cost home ownership, HomeLink, homelessness. |
| Inland Revenue |
Advice on tax credits, child benefit and much more.
Tax credits - phone: 0845 3003 900
Child Benefit phone: 0800 302 1444
Check their website for other contact details for individuals, families, and businesses.
|
| Jobcentre Plus |
Jobcentre Plus supports people of working age from welfare into work and helps employers to fill their vacancies. Looking for a job?
Phone: 0845 6060 234
|
| Legal Advice |
Community Legal Advice (CLA) is a free and confidential advice service in England and Wales paid for by legal aid. If you are living on a low income or benefits, you may be eligible for free specialist advice from legal advisers on issues including: benefits and tax credits; debt, education; housing; employment; and family problems. The advice is independent and confidential. Community Legal Advice will ask you questions about your problem and find out what help you need. You will be asked a number of questions about your finances to see if you are eligible for legal aid. Community Legal Advice has a free translation service available in 170 languages. |
| Menta, the Suffolk Enterprise Agency |
Offers one-to-one advice for businesses, training, workshops and networking opportunities. |
| Money made clear |
Organisations that can help you - links to useful financial information from The Financial Services Association (FSA), including debt advice, information for carers, pensions and much more - just scroll down the page. |
| Relate |
Relate offers advice, relationship counselling, mediation, consultations and support face-to-face, by phone and through their website. |
| Rural communities |
Rural Action Plan, Rural Initiatives Grant Scheme and much more. |
| Small Business Rate Relief |
Small Business Rate Relief is available at 50% for ratepayers occupying a single property with a rateable value of up to £5,000, with relief declining in percentage terms on a sliding scale until it is 0% for a property with a rateable value of £10,000. The relief is only available to ratepayers with either:
- one property; or
- one main property and other additional properties providing those additional properties have rateable values less than £2,200.
More information: Business Rates or National Non-Domestic Rates |
| Stimulating the local economy (PDF 90Kb) |
Recent council Initiatives to help counter the effects of the economic downturn. |
| Through good times and bad – the ‘credit crunch’ in St Edmundsbury |
How St Edmundsbury is helping. |
| Tourist Information Centre |
The Tourist information centre can publicise your business or event. |
| Bid4Bury (the business improvement district in Bury St Edmunds |
Mark Cordell, Chief Executive Officer, Bid4Bury
90 Guildhall Street
Bury St Edmunds
Suffolk
IP33 1PR
Phone: 01284 766258
Email: mark.cordell@bid4bury.com
Website: www.ourburystedmunds.com |
| Town Centre Management - Haverhill |
Helping the town centre realise its natural role both as a prosperous location for business and investment, and as a focal point for vibrant, inclusive communities.
Andrea Mayley, Economic Development Manager
West Suffolk House
Western Way
Bury St Edmunds
Suffolk IP33 3YU
Phone: 01284 757114
Email: economic.development@stedsbc.gov.uk |
