The Bournemouth Chamber has a strong working relationship with our Business Support Partners to help ensure our members receive the best support possible in all aspects of their business.

If you have concerns about aspects of your business, want to develop your business but are unsure how to progress, or would like to develop the skills of your team then contact the organisations below or call the Chamber Secretary on 07920 140997.

WORKING TOGETHER WITH BUSINESS LINK

Bournemouth Chamber of Trade and Commerce works closely with Business Link in Dorset to ensure Chamber members have access to high quality business advice and support.

As you may know, the Business Link service is changing fundamentally at the end of November 2011. From the 25th November the regional service will be closing. This includes the following services:

One-to-one business advice delivered by our adviser team
Telephone advice delivered locally
Start up training including pre start and the current 3 day training course
The local events programme

After this date the Business Link service will move fully online, with the launch of the enhanced Business Link website. After this date please do not make any referrals to the local contact number, email or office.
www.businesslink.gov.uk

The changes to the Government’s business support offer are in line with the Government’s “digital by default” strategy, which aims to make online the primary channel for delivering public services. Content on the enhanced website will include:

access to all business information and online services from across Government – such as paying VAT and PAYE online, and registering a business with Companies House
a free Contracts Finder service on Businesslink.gov.uk which businesses can use to search for government procurement opportunities, including lower-value contracts worth £10,000 and above. 
‘My New Business’ – an enhanced service providing tailored support to take people through all the tasks needed to start their own business.
Improve your business’ – a new service for businesses looking to improve or grow.

In addition the new mentoring website www.mentorsme.co.uk will continue to support those looking for business mentors.

From November 2011 the website will also be supported by a national call centre delivering access to the services for those unable to access the online support. The telephone number for this helpline is 0845 600 9006. Finally, a new programme ‘Business Coaching for Growth’ is planned to be launched in the new year and will provide high quality business coaching support for small and medium sized businesses with high growth potential, to enable them to develop and implement growth plans.

 
For the latest information on the changes you can register for the Business Improvement Newsletter at

http://www.bis.gov.uk/site/connect/newsletters/business-improvement

If you have any queries regarding the above, please contact Matthew Butcher at

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The Dorset Business Mentoring Programme (Dormen) provides one-to-one mentoring support for small businesses across Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole. Since its start in 2005, the programme has supported over 500 businesses – ranging from sole traders to medium sized companies.

Mentoring is a relationship between two parties, where one (the mentor) gives the other (the client) guidance and support to achieve agreed objectives. Mentors cannot work miracles but they can use their business experience to help clients review their operations and future plans, and act as a sounding board. They can also provide encouragement and support to help clients achieve those plans.

Dormen Business Mentors are experienced business and professional people who provide their time at no charge. They are trained in business mentoring and kept up to date with recent developments in business knowledge and skills through our continuing programme of development.

If you are a small developing business, a Dormen mentor may be able to provide you with help from a business person who has been there and done it! A business can be referred to the scheme by a recognised business support body, such as Business Link or a bank, or you can request a mentor yourself.

The programme has been developed through a partnership of local authorities, public sector agencies, private sector agencies, private sector institutions and Higher/Further Education establishments.

Call 01202 607530 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Click here to visit the Dormen website

Retail SkillShop Dorset provides a service to the retail industry helping to raise its profile, attract passionate new staff and develop first class skills for today's fast moving retail environment.

Through a One-Stop-Virtual-Shop it brings together many of the elements needed for a successful retail sector - employers, potential employees, education,training providers and business support partners throughout Dorset.

Managed by Bournemouth & Poole College the Skillshop is a free service which makes a retailers life easier by going to them to identify and help address all their retail business support and training needs.

Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

RETAIL RESOURCE DORSET

Retail Resource, Dorset is offer a personal support service to ensure they understand what you need and deliver what you want.

Services include:

• Shop Sitting - Need a holiday or an extra pair of hands?
• Mystery Shopping - find out what your customer thinks of your service.
• Retail Awards and initiatives.
• Retail Skills Workshops covering the nine areas of retail from visual merchandising to marketing, finance, IT,store operations, Leadership & Management.
• Retail Qualifications - funding for all ages is available for Retail, Customer Service and Business Admin.
• Retail Apprenticeships - 16 -18 years - fully funded.
• Retail Consultancy - Mentoring - Coaching - Guidance.
• Other services include funding search, marketing, press release copy writing,sage, web site development and management plus many more.

Contact Mandy Payne Tel: 07869149976 . Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Web: www.retailresource.biz