Where can businesses find support?

Where can I get business advice?

The UK government and devolved governments provide a range of business advice services. These include directories of support, helplines, articles and training:

• Government business support helplines and gov.uk
• In England, local authority-supported Growth Hubs
• In Scotland, Find business support in Scotland
• In Wales, Business Wales
• In Northern Ireland, co.uk and Invest Northern Ireland

Where can I find funding for my business?

Businesses commonly seek finance in the form of loans or investments from private sector financial firms and investors. Beyond these there are various forms of public funds:

• The British Business Bank is the primary government body for improving access to finance for small and medium-sized businesses; it provides a range of loan and equity finance through private finance partners
• uk maintains a searchable list of publicly funded finance options; this includes finance for specific schemes, improvements and investments
• Businesses involved in research and development may qualify for funding from the UK’s innovation agency Innovate UK

Often, businesses are looking for grants rather than loans or equity investment. The Grantfinder database provides information on grant opportunities from the public, private and third sector. It is available to MPs and their staff via the Commons Library online catalogue.

Businesses involved in exporting, or looking to export, may be eligible for finance from UK Export Finance (UKEF).

My business is struggling; what support is available?

In addition to the general sources of advice listed at the top of this article, the charity Business Debtline offers free debt advice and support to businesses in debt.

Businesses which are struggling may, among other things, wish to consider looking into discretionary business rate reliefs. Further information on reliefs in England is available in the Commons Library research briefing Business rates reliefs.

My business’s trade or value has fallen because of a local development or infrastructure issue; what can I do?

The options available to a business will depend on the type of disruption. Broadly speaking, businesses may have legal remedies where disruption affects their property or their ability to use it. They are less likely to be eligible for compensation solely because of falling trade. A business may wish to consider taking legal advice before taking any action. This is a non-exhaustive list of some available actions:

• In certain circumstances, owners and occupiers of property affected by public works may be able to claim compensation under Part 1 of the Land Compensation Act for depreciation in the property’s value.
• Works by a third party (say, a neighbouring business renovating their property) may interfere with a business’s use and enjoyment of their own property. An affected business may be able to take legal action against the third party. They may also be able to report the issue to their local authority.
• Businesses can face disruption if their landlord requires access to the property to, say, carry out repairs. The landlord's rights to do this should be set out in the lease. Business tenants can take legal action against landlords if they believe a landlord's actions unlawfully interfere with their use and enjoyment of the property.

Businesses can take out business interruption insurance to cover their losses in times when they cannot trade due to unexpected circumstances. However, whether this covers a particular event will depend on the terms of the policy and will not necessarily cover these eventualities.

How do I get money back from a company which is insolvent?

A company is insolvent if it can’t pay its debts when they fall due or, in some cases, when its liabilities exceed the value of its assets. In formal insolvency proceedings such as administration or liquidation, an insolvency practitioner or other office-holder may take responsibility for dealing with the company's affairs and assets.

Businesses might be owed money by an insolvent business for a number of reasons including:

• They bought goods and services from the company which haven’t been delivered.
• They sold goods and services to the company which hasn’t bene paid for.
• They loaned money to the company.

Those owed money can contact the person or organisation managing the insolvency and, where required, submit a proof of their debt.

Details of who is managing the insolvency can be found on the company’s page on the company register; they will also publish regular updates on the progress of the administration or liquidation to the register. Alternatively, individuals can identify the insolvency practitioner by searching the insolvency notices of the Gazette, the official public record.

Depending on the circumstances of the insolvency, and the nature of the debt, a business may not receive back all the money it is owed when the insolvency process is concluded.

Further information is available in the Commons Library’s Company insolvency FAQs.

A payment I’m owed by another company is late; what can I do?

The British Business Bank has published guidance on ways in which businesses can limit the number of late payments, including vetting customers and ensuring invoices are correct.

If a business is owed money by another business which is late according to their contract, they may wish to seek legal advice before deciding a course of action. Citizens Advice, Law Centres and the Lawyers For Your Business, among others, may be able to offer some free support.

Ultimately businesses can pursue unpaid debts from other businesses through the courts. For further information see Gov.uk’s pages on late commercial payments (including guidance on how to charge interest on late payments) and making a court claim.

Small businesses (with fewer than 50 employees) which are owed money by a larger business (50 or more employees) may also be able to get support from the Small Business Commissioner.

Further information

As well as the sources provided above, the following institutions may be well-placed to support businesses:

• Chambers of Commerce
• The Federation of Small Businesses
• Sector-specific trade associations; the Trade Association Forum maintains a non-exhaustive list