BUSINESS SUPPORT AND ADVICE
Inward Investment UK – For those looking to move to the UK
Expand your business to the UK
Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership – LEP – Regional Insights and Support
Home – Heart of the south west LEP (heartofswlep.co.uk)
Heart of the South West Growth Hub – Specific Business Support
Home page – Growth Hub (heartofswgrowthhub.co.uk)
Bespoke support that grows and scales innovative businesses
Innovate UK EDGE (ukri.org)
Manufacturing Advisory Service offering business support services to manufacturers
Welcome to SWMAS | SWMAS
Business mentoring services
Home Page (businessmentorssouthwest.co.uk)
University business support – access to services and facilities
Working with business – University of Exeter
Free support and advice to businesses and entrepreneurs
Business and IP Centre – Devon – Devon County Council (librariesunlimited.org.uk)
South West Business Council – representing regional businesses
The business voice for a better future | South West Business Council
Export guidance and support – tailored support and advice for businesses on how to start exporting or increase the amount of goods and services they sell overseas
Welcome to great.gov.uk – export guidance and services
Major new ‘buy local’ scheme to support Devon businesses and consumers
Made in Devon – Trading Standards
‘Buy with confidence’ certification scheme, run by Trading Standards
Buy With Confidence – Trading Standards Approved – Devon County Council
Devon County Economy Team
Home – Economy and Enterprise (devon.gov.uk)
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
There is a range of local and national support to help you find funding and finance opportunities:
Foreign owned companies – ERDF Inward Investment Support Grant Scheme – Heart of the South West LEP – for foreign owned SME businesses based in the HotSW region
Finance and support for your business – this is the main portal for searching for government-backed support and finance for business
Innovate UK – funding for research & innovation
SWIG Finance – business loans and advice on accessing finance
Better Business Finance – support and a search facility to find a finance provider
GAIN – support services including grant-finder for businesses in the South West
Devon Funding News– regular updates
Alternative Funding
With grants becoming harder to come by, businesses are turning to other ways of raising the funds they need, often with great success.
Crowdfunding
There is a growing list of crowdfunding websites where you can pitch your idea and invite prospective investors to contribute. You can find out more about crowdfunding have a look at our world-leading local Crowdfunding platform, Exeter-based Crowdcube.
Peer-to-peer lending
This is a new way of making a direct connection between businesses seeking a loan and people looking for a competitive return on their investment:
Funding Circle – an online marketplace that enables individuals and businesses to lend directly to other small businesses
Folk2Folk – a South West peer-to-peer lending company
PROPERTY
Commercial properties for rent across Devon – see ‘Invest In Devon’ – Locations Page – for more assistance with bespoke property searches:
Commercial properties for rent in Devon, UK
A useful tool to estimate your business rates:
Estimate your business rates
Help to identify which planning authority you may need to advice from:
Devon Planning Authorities
Great places to locate your business, with facilities to suit all stages of business development:
Business Parks and Work Hubs in Devon
GENERAL
Devon Climate Emergency Initiatives and advice
Devon Climate Emergency – Creating a resilient, net-zero carbon Devon – where people and nature thrive
South West Cyber Resilience Centre – offering FREE core membership
www.swcrc.co.uk
Tourism Portal for visitors
Visit Devon | Holidays in Devon UK | Official Tourist Board
Devon County Council – Main website for details on central services
Devon County Council | Services and information for Devon residents
The Economic Development teams in each location will be able to provide further detail on these and many more local initiatives.
See Invest in Devon – Locations