Business Link

Business Link provides the information, advice and support you need to start, maintain and grow a business. It provides information and advice to help customers make the most of their opportunities. Rather than providing all the advice and help itself, it fast-tracks customers to the expert help they need. The Business Link service is a crucial part of the government's campaign to promote enterprise and to make the UK the best place in the world to start and grow a business.

Website:		http://www.businesslink.org
Phone:		0845 600 9006

CDFA- Community Development Finance Association

The CDFA is the trade association for Community Development Finance Institutions, which are sustainable, independent financial institutions that provide capital and support to enable individuals or organisations to develop and create wealth in disadvantaged communities or underserved markets. The CDFA run several training events throughout the year, and their website gives access to useful resources and a directory to help you find finances for starting or developing your business.

Email:		info@cdfa.org.uk
Website:		http://www.cdfa.org.uk
Phone:		020 7430 0222

Community Action Network (CAN)

A network with over 700 members, CAN works to promote and support social entrepreneurs. They aim to find new, entrepreneurial ways to solve social problems, and in doing so, link people from the voluntary and not-for-profit sectors, with the public and private sectors. CAN provides a number of services and resources to social enterprises and people interested in starting their own social enterprise.

Address:		Community Action Network, 3rd Floor Downstream Building, 1 London Bridge, London SE1 9BG
Email:		canhq@can-online.org.uk
Website:		http://www.can-online.org.uk
Phone:		0845 456 2537
Fax:		0845 456 2538

South East: Social Solutions Ltd - CAN

Email:		info@socialsolutions.co.uk
Website:		http://www.socialsolutions.co.uk
Phone:		08707 577275

Co-operatives UK- the union of co-operative enterprises

This is the central organisation for co-operative enterprises in the UK. It is member owned and promotes co-operative and mutual solutions and works in partnership with members to build a strong and successful co-operative movement. It provides a range of services to support members and their growth and success.

Website:		http://www.cooperatives-uk.coop
Phone:		0161 246 2900

Co-operative Research Unit (CRU)

CRU has nearly 30 years experience working with co-operatives, social enterprises other social economy organisations. They provide research, training and consultancy to support the development of co-operatives and social enterprises. They have also written several publications on these issues; see the publications list on their website for further details.

Email:		A.S.Walters@open.ac.uk
Website:		http://technology.open.ac.uk/cru/
Phone:		01908 653054

Plunkett Foundation

The Plunkett Foundation is an educational charity, based near Oxford in the UK, which supports the development of rural group enterprise world-wide.

Website:		http://www.plunkett.co.uk
Phone:		01993 883636

ProHelp

ProHelp is a national network of over 1,000 professional firms who provide free advice to community groups and voluntary organisations. There are ProHelp offices in each English county. To find your nearest ProHelp office see the website.

Website:

http://www.bitc.org.uk/community/employee_volunteering/prohelp/

Ruralnet UK

Ruralnet UK is a regeneration charity that promotes a living and working countryside by finding ways to help rural communities improve and strengthen their economies. Services include research, consultancy and information transfer, and projects that put ideas into practice at a local level. They make connections between people to ensure that information reaches those who need it.

Email:		info@ruralnetuk.org
Website:		http://www.ruralnetuk.org
Phone:		0845 1300 411

Social Enterprise Coalition (SEC)

The SEC is the UK trade body that brings together all types of social enterprise to promote the sector and share knowledge. To help social enterprise grow, SEC both influences the policy agenda and promotes best practice. They also organise events like workshops and conferences, provide lots of useful information, and publish materials such as policy documents, training manuals, and best practice guides. Their website contains many useful tools, including search resources, links, case studies, and a social enterprise directory.

Email:		officemanager@socialenterprise.org.uk
Website:		http://www.socialenterprise.org.uk
Phone:		020 7793 2323

The Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens (FCFCG)

(FCFCG) is a charity that supports, promotes and represents city farms and community gardens throughout the UK. Our members range from organic community orchards to pockets of urban space saved from development; from allotments to well-established city farms.