Business Advice and Support in North Somerset
Get free, expert business advice tailored to your needs. Our team provides direct support to help North Somerset businesses start, grow, and thrive.
Whether you need guidance on funding, property search, skills development, or business growth strategies, we’re here to help. Explore our support services below.
Economy Team
The North Somerset Council Economic Development team are here to help local businesses with their needs.
Explore North Somerset Networking Events
Explore North Somerset Networking Event
Explore North Somerset is a host of networking events for Visitor Economy businesses to showcase North Somerset's distinct offerings and encourage connections.
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Property Search
Property Search
Our team will try their best to find a potential property that suits your requirements.
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Business In North Somerset Newsletter
Business In North Somerset Newsletter
Subscribe to receive key updates to your inbox once a month.
Updates include grants, funding opportunities, events and other news that would be relevant to North Somerset businesses.
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Updates include grants, funding opportunities, events and other news that would be relevant to North Somerset businesses.
Starting a Business
Starting a business involves seeking support, guidance, training, resources and funding from local centres for entrepreneurs who want to launch or develop their own enterprise.
West of England Food and Drink Support Initiative
West of England
Food and Drink Support Initiative
Free support is available to new and existing food and drink businesses funded by the West of England Combined Authority and North Somerset Council. This specialist advice and support is delivered provided by the Future Food Partnership CIC at The Food WorksSW.
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Start-up Essentials 2-day business course
Start-up support
Starting a business is a big adventure, but there's more to it than just having an idea. Schedule an appointment with accredited advisors at the hive and sign up to their three-day starting in business course.
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Start-up advice from The Hive
Business Support Unlocked
Business Support Unlocked provides a range of free support including pre-start, early growth, and business resilience support to North Somerset businesses alongside events, workshops and networking opportunities.
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Events at The Food WorksSW
Business Support Events
The Food WorksSW is offering several events targeted at Food and Drink businesses in North Somerset.
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Social Media and Digital Marketing Support events
Social Media and Digital Marketing Support
JAE Digital Ltd, headed by Jack Easterbrook has begun working in partnership with the hive to offer free un-biased advice on social media & digital marketing for micro/small businesses & prestart ups in North Somerset as part of the hive’s business support offer.
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Business Support Events at The Hive
Business Support
Events & Courses
The Hive offers a number of Business Support Events throughout the year. To see the upcoming events, check out their calendar.
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Business support and Finance for established businesses
This section provides information on internal and external funding options available to North Somerset businesses, including funding programmes, advisory services, and investment support to help identify suitable financial resources for growth.
Growth support from The Hive
Unleash you growth potential
The Hive's expert business advisers can provide guidance on anything from your business goals, to marketing, employing others, operations & finance, and implementing business technologies. They conduct strategic analyses to help reposition your business to adapt to new products, services or procedures
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Technical support from The Food WorksSW
Technical support
The Food WorksSW, offers expert and professional support to the food industry.
Whether you are an individual looking to start a new business or are an established company, they have the knowledge to assist you.
Their team specialises in both food safety compliance and product development. They can provide you with a bespoke package to support your business needs.
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West of England Growth Hub
West of England Growth Hub
The West of England Growth Hub provides tailored support, expert guidance and access to finance and support programmes to small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs). Currently, North Somerset businesses can access some but not all programmes
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Made Smarter
Made Smarter
Manufacturing SMEs can apply to become digitally ready and adopt new technologies.
• receive a free a diagnostic review
• Businesses can then apply for: a grant of up to £20,000 towards physical equipment or software; fully-funded digital leadership training; or a UWE intern (up to 250 hours) to support a digital project.
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Investment Readiness Advisory Service
Investment Readiness Advisory Service
The Investment Readiness Advisory Service (IRAS) is a free, grant-funded consultancy commissioned by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority and delivered by BBRC providing expert guidance to support businesses in preparing for investment, helping them navigate the journey to connect with the right investors.
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Tech Adoption for Growth
Tech Adoption for Growth
A government-funded research pilot (up to £1 million, up to 500 spaces) offering free digital support to businesses. Open to start-ups, sole traders, and SMEs. Because it is a research programme, businesses are allocated to either one-to-one expert support or expert-led workshops rather than selecting their preference.
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Connect to Work
Connect to Work
A new programme launched in May 2026 supporting employers to recruit, develop, and retain individuals who face barriers to employment due to health conditions, disabilities, or other challenges (including long-term conditions, ADHD, prior substance dependency, ex-offenders, and more)..
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Good Employment Charter
Good Employment Charter
Good Employment Charter
A free membership community for businesses of any size, focused on improving working conditions, employee wellbeing, and business success.
• Members access free events throughout the year, receive support in creating a Good Employer action plan, and connect with other employers.
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Grant Finder
Grant Finder
The GrantFinder service provides North Somerset businesses with exclusive access to a comprehensive grant database searching thousands of funding opportunities across the UK. It offers personalised grant searches tailored to your business needs, sector, and growth plans for activities including expansion, innovation, investment, and workforce development that support business growth, eligibility guidance, and application support.
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Loans, Grants and Funding opportunties
GOV.UK
A Government database of 124+ business finance schemes including loans, grants, equity funding, expertise and advice for businesses at all stages across UK regions and industries.
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Grant Tree
Grant Tree
GrantTree is an innovation funding consultancy helping UK startups, scaleups and innovators access R&D tax relief, grants, business loans and non-dilutive financing, securing over £400 million for clients since 2010.
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South West Investment Group (SWIG)
South West Investment Group (SWIG)
SWIG Finance provides start-up and business loans from £500 to £250,000 for South and West Country SMEs, having invested over £97.6 million since 2009 as a not-for-profit social enterprise.
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British Business Bank
British Business Bank
The British Business Bank is a government-owned development bank providing debt and equity finance through partner lenders and fund managers, offering start-up loans, growth guarantees, and regional investment funds for UK SMEs.
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Folk2Folk
Folk2Folk
Folk2Folk is the UK's largest peer-to-peer marketplace lender providing property-secured business loans from £100,000 to SMEs across regional Britain, having facilitated over £600 million in lending since 2013.
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Republic Europe
Republic Europe
Republic Europe is an equity crowdfunding platform enabling UK and EU startups to raise capital from retail investors starting at £10, formerly known as Seedrs before rebranding in 2024.
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Property and Premises
You can find comprehensive property solutions, including searchable business units, specialised development kitchens, and flexible meeting room hire facilities for businesses across the area.
Development Kitchens at The Food WorksSW
Development Kitchens
FoodWorks SW offers food-grade development kitchens for short-term hire by any food and drink business size. The kitchens are equipped with standard and specialist catering equipment for bakery, dairy, ready meal, and drinks development, allowing businesses to scale-up production and pilot improvements.
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Food-Grade business units at The Food WorksSW
Business Units
The Food WorksSW provides food and drink businesses with modern, cost-effective, and food-grade Business Units which come in different sizes and are suitable for both start-ups and established businesses.
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Meeting Room Hire
Meeting room hire
Food WorksSW offers affordable meeting and conference rooms for 2 to 100 people, with amenities such as parking, WiFi and audio-visual equipment. There's also a coffee shop and engagement center for additional space and catering needs.
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People and Skills
Here you can find training programmes, HR support, and recruitment solutions for businesses. There are skills bootcamps, apprenticeships, work placements, and resources for workforce development and creating inclusive teams.
Skills Bootcamps
The Good Employment Charter
Skills Bootcamps are free, flexible courses of up to 16 weeks, giving people the opportunity to build up sector-specific skills and fast-track to an interview with an employer.
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Expert HR Advice at the hive
Expert HR Advice at the hive
Free 1:1 appointments available at the hive for North Somerset Businesses on Friday 31st January 2025. Limited availibility for a free 45-minute appointments with Jay Wiliamson.
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Social Media and Digital Marketing Support
Social Media and Digital Marketing Support
JAE Digital Ltd, headed by Jack Easterbrook has begun working in partnership with the hive to offer free un-biased advice on social media & digital marketing for micro/small businesses & prestart ups in North Somerset as part of the hive’s business support offer.
Find out more
Working with an Apprentice
Working with an Apprentice
Weston College offers over 50 different apprenticeships ranging from Level 2 to Degree-level. They have provided some materials for employers to support them with looking for and employing apprentices.
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Sector-Based Work Academy Programme (SWAP)
Sector-Based Work Academy Programme (SWAP)
SWAP is a fully-funded government programme delivered by Weston College, which helps jobseekers improve their skills in industries such as retail, care or construction. Employers offer work experience placements and guaranteed interviews, making it a valuable opportunity for participants lasting up to six weeks.
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Creating an Inclusive Workforce
Creating an Inclusive Workforce
Weston College is a national Centre for Excellence in SEND and a Queen’s Anniversary Prize winner for its inclusive practice. It offers training workshops, recruitment support, consultancy, and resources for employers to improve accessibility, diversity, and inclusion.
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Work-based Traineeships
Work-based Traineeships
Traineeships train young people for future careers and help employers find new talent. Trainees take classes to learn skills like interview prep, CV writing, and workplace behavior before starting a 6-week placement.
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Industry Work Placements & Work Experience
Industry Work Placements & Work Experience
Weston College offers Industry T-Levels which are 80% in class learning and 20% (minimum 315 hours) as a work placement.
Work experience isa 5 day taster week that students do, often in Year 10 to gain experience in a real business and learn valuable skills in their chosen field of work.
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Work experience isa 5 day taster week that students do, often in Year 10 to gain experience in a real business and learn valuable skills in their chosen field of work.
Made Smarter
Made Smarter
Are you a production or manufacturing business based in the West of England?
You could be eligible for Made Smarter, a programme specifically designed to get your business future ready. One of the support measures you can access is a student intern from University West of England.
Internships can last up to 250 hours, starting in April 2025.
Find out more
You could be eligible for Made Smarter, a programme specifically designed to get your business future ready. One of the support measures you can access is a student intern from University West of England.
Internships can last up to 250 hours, starting in April 2025.
Growing and Scaling
Find comprehensive business development support including intellectual property protection, strategic growth planning, and Good Employment Charter adoption for businesses expanding sustainably across the region.
Growing Your Business
Growing Your Business
The Hive offers a number of services and opportunities available to you and your business including: Business advice & coaching, Practical skills training, Specialist business information, Local contacts & further support, Access to funding opportunities, Networking and Access to business clinics.
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Intellectual Property Support
Intellectual Property Support
We offer IP support for businesses, including free advice from experts, up to £8,000 in grants for IP costs, and access to finance, growth programmes, and networking opportunities via Growth Hub.
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The Good Employment Charter
The Good Employment Charter
The Good Employment Charter is a voluntary accreditation scheme by West of England Combined Authority that improves employment standards for all organizations. The Authority also provides a Growth Hub with support for businesses including advice, funding, training, events, and networking.
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Innovate UK Business Growth
Innovate UK Business Growth
Innovate UK Business Growth is a key part of the UK innovation agency’s deep investment in the pioneering businesses that drive economic growth. It is a publicly-funded service available to all high potential small to medium sized innovation-driven companies, including Innovate UK grant winners.
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Intellectual Property Support
Intellectual Property Support
We offer IP support for businesses, including free advice from experts, up to £8,000 in grants for IP costs, and access to finance, growth programmes, and networking opportunities via Growth Hub.
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Inward Investment Advice
WsM Enterprise Area
North Somerset's WSM Enterprise Area offers an ideal business location with skilled workforce, accessibility and diverse industries including a food enterprise zone, and business centre, suitable tech, manufacturing, and professional services.
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Invest Bristol and Bath
Invest Bristol & Bath supports business growth and collaboration in the West of England, offering tailored services and promoting the region as a top investment destination. Key sectors include creative industries, aerospace, digital technology, and life sciences.
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Bristol Property Agents Association
The BPAA is a Bristol property industry group that includes commercial and residential professionals. Established in 1946, it provides insight for local decisions, meets regularly with Local Planning Authority, and hosts events like an annual dinner for members.
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Other business support
Opportunity North Somerset
Our Employment and Skills team offers various support for your business, such as recruitment advice, connections with larger employment partners, opportunities for upskilling, promotional opportunities, access to untapped talent pools, and direct news updates on local job fairs.
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South West Investment Fund
Supports new and growing businesses with finance options, including loans from £25k to £2m and equity up to £5m. It's part of the British Business Bank's new Nation and Region Investment Funds, with a £200m commitment to drive economic growth.
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Business support in libraries
A collection of support services that our Libraries team have collated for businesses,
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The Kings Award for Enterprise
Acknowledge UK businesses' remarkable achievements in Innovation, International Trade, and Sustainable Development. Winners will receive the Royal Emblem and attend a Royal reception hosted by the King.
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Somerset Training and Employment Support Grants
Financial assistance to individuals who are unemployed or seeking new employment, or who are looking to upskill or retrain.
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Barclays Eagle Labs
Eagle Labs has received £12 million grant to support UK tech startups and scaleups. The funding will help achieve four objectives: deliver support services, grow regional networks, provide digital entrepreneurship training, and signpost existing initiatives.
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Santander's Open Academy
There are many offers of ever-changing scholarships, courses and more resources to upskill your staff.
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Visitor Economy Support
Visit Weston
Visit Weston promotes tourism and business in Weston-super-Mare under Weston Town Council, offering similar services, and has a team of Holiday Makers to welcome visitors.
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Visit Somerset
Visit Somerset promotes tourism and business in Somerset, offering advice and services, such as accommodation, events and activities.
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Visit West
Visit West promotes tourism and business in Bristol, Bath, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. It operates Visit Bristol, Visit Bath and Meet Bristol and Bath.
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Business Support Partners
Business West
Business West is a Certified B Corp that aims to make the West of England the best place to live and work. It helps 24,000 businesses start, grow and export, as well as lobby government on their behalf. It has 200 staff and a turnover of £10 million.
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Federation of Small Businesses
FSB supports UK small and medium-sized businesses, providing benefits and lobbying government. Members receive legal advice, business banking, tax protection and networking opportunities.
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EGI Radius
EGI Radius is a commercial real estate platform that offers data, news, and analysis. It combines Radius Data Exchange's property data and market trends with legal commentary from Estates Gazette. Users can search for properties by location, type, size, price, and more, as well as access reports, charts, and maps.
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Weston-super-Mare Chamber of Commerce
The Weston-super-Mare Chamber of Commerce represents local businesses in and around the area, both small and large. Their mission is to cultivate a network of members providing community, support, and opportunities.
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Clevedon Chamber of Commerce
Clevedon Chamber of Commerce represents businesses in North Somerset's seaside town. Members have diverse skills and work to boost the local business community. They participate in initiatives like Coastal Community Team and North Somerset Ambassador group.
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Somerset Chamber of Commerce,
Somerset Chamber of Commerce, est. 1994, supports 2,000+ businesses of all sizes across Somerset in partnership with town chambers. Accredited to British Chambers of Commerce, representing over 100,000 UK businesses, their aim is to connect, influence, represent and provide growth opportunities.
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Weston BID
The Weston BID is a Business Improvement District that covers Weston Town Centre and works with about 450 businesses. It aims to improve the town centre’s attractiveness, security, promotion and communication1. It was established in 2012 and renewed in 2016 and 2021.
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Clevedon BID
Clevedon BID improves the town centre, Hill and Seafront shopping and leisure areas through marketing, promotion and street enhancement. Launched in 2018 it has raised £500,000 for its projects.
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Libraries Connected
UK Libraries Connected represents public library services in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and promotes the value of libraries while driving innovation in the sector. It also provides online courses, resources and events for library staff, volunteers and users.
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Other
Libraries Connected
A travel management platform for companies providing business travellers a consumer-style booking experience with a huge choice of local and international train services.
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