CouncilTargeted advice for your business
The organisations below offer targeted business advice. For ease of reference, these specialist areas have been grouped together in the following categories:
- Women owned or managed businesses
- Businesses in the creative & cultural sector
- Businesses in the manufacturing sector
- Equalities & diversity issues
- Environmental, health & safety issues
- Research, development & innovation
- Tax & business rates
- Social enterprise businesses
- Advice for young people
- Information on building regulations
- Supply chain advice
- Employment & skills
Women owned or managed businesses
Account3 Women’s Consultancy Service
Account3 is a women’s training and development organisation run by and for local women.
Businesses in the creative & cultural Sector
Creative Enterprise Network (CEN)
CEN is a partnership of small and medium enterprises, primarily black and ethnic minority led. CEN can offer advice on business planning, fundraising and marketing.
Cultural Industries Development Agency (CIDA)
CIDA is a specialist support organisation for the creative and cultural sector. CIDA can provide sector specific business advice, business training and guidance on business funding.
London Borough of Tower Hamlets, Arts and Events
The Tower Hamlets Arts and Events team produce an arts directory for local artists and organisations which includes information on jobs, funding, professional development and local arts news.
Equalities & diversity issues
Stonewall
Stonewall can provide a range of advice to both businesses and employees on equality issues for lesbians, gay men and bisexual people.
Tower Hamlets council, scrutiny & equalities and human resources
The scrutiny & equalities and human resources role is to support and develop effective diversity and equalities practice across the council, police, primary care trust, voluntary sector and business community.
For more information contact Michael Keating 020 7364 3055 or Fatima Shuaibu on 020 7364 4518
Environmental, health & safety issues
London Environment Centre (LEC)
London Environment Centre (LEC) – part of London Metropolitan University – provides free environmental support to businesses based in Tower Hamlets.
London Remade
London Remade promote sustainable waste management in the Thames Gateway by developing local markets for London's recycled materials.
SmartWork
SmartWorks is a provider for environmental support to businesses both on cost savings and at strategic level.
Tower Hamlets environmental health
The Tower Hamlets health and safety team can help with the enforcement of laws in retail, warehouses, offices, leisure centres, communicable disease control, licensing and special treatments
Businesses in the manufacturing sector
London Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS)
The London MAS help manufacturers operate more effectively by providing support on lean manufacturing, supply chain development, product innovation and training.
Research, development & innovation
City Business Library
City Business Library is a free public business reference library.
London Innovation
London Innovation is an initiative led by the London Development Agency, which strives to increase the productivity of London's businesses. The initiative encourages collaboration on research activity between business and universities to stimulate competitiveness, creativity and enterprise.
SME Innovation programme
The SME Innovation support programme aims to stimulate the development and growth of SME’s in the London objective 2 areas through improvements in product, process, technology and business practices.
Think Big
Think Big is an innovation programme created to accelerate and diversify growth of innovative businesses in the tier 2 region of the Thames Gateway. The Think Big team is part of the Thames innovation Centre Ltd.
Tax & business rates
HM Revenue & Customs - City of London Business Support Team (BST)
The City of London business support team can help employers and businesses to understand and manage their tax, national insurance and VAT obligations.
The Valuation Office Agency (VOA)
The Valuation Office Agency is an executive agency of HM Revenue & Customs and is responsible for, among other things, assessing all business and non-domestic property in England and Wales, and calculating a rateable value for each one.
Social enterprise businesses
Bromley-by-Bow centre
The Bromley by Bow centre is a social enterprise hub. In addition to housing six social enterprises the centre also includes ‘Beyond the Barn’ a programme designed to develop and grow more social enterprises across Tower Hamlets.
Spitalfields Small Business Association (SSBA)
SSBA are a not-for-profit, multi-racial social enterprise. SSBA provide affordable managed workspace and business advice to their tenants
Advice for Young People
The Prince’s Trust
The Prince’s Trust provide advice and guidance to young people who want to start a business.
Information on building regulations
Tower Hamlets building control
Tower Hamlets building control ensures that all new, converted or altered buildings, comply with building regulations by providing a responsive plan approval and site inspection service.
Supply chain advice
Supply London
The Supply London programme is designed to maximise the potential of small businesses to win public sector and commercial contracts.
Employment & skills
Local Labour in Construction (LLiC)
LLiC assist unemployed residents gain access to construction jobs created as part of the council’s regeneration programme.
Skillsmatch
Skillsmatch is a London Borough of Tower Hamlets job brokerage service supported by regeneration agencies and in partnership with Canary Wharf PLC.
Pid Nos: 346, 350, 677
