Starting a Business

North East Lincolnshire Council supports new local businesses, and there are plenty of grants, support and advice to get your enterprise off the ground.

Economic Development Team
The Council's Economic Development Team give advice and assistance to support local businesses. Go to /business/economicdevelopment/Contacts.htm for phone numbers and contact information.

The team also provides information on local industry, including chemicals, food production and local small businesses at /business/localbusinesses, and information on shopping area in North East Lincolnshire at /business/shops/.

Registering Your Business
All UK limited companies must be registered with, and have a company number from, Companies House in London. Their website at http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk has useful advice on registering your business, including downloadable versions of the forms you'll need to complete.

Small Business Service
A department of the DTI, the Small Business Service's has information on the Governments action plans and policies for small businesses.

Business Link
Business Link, at http://www.businesslink.gov.uk, has information and advice on everything from payroll to grants to health and safety, for those who own a small business or are thinking of setting one up.

Prince's Trust
The Prince's Trust is a charitable organisation which supports people aged 18-30 who are unemployed but want to start their own business, through a system of grants, loans and free advice and mentoring. Go to http://www.princes-trust.org.uk for more information.

Taxes
The Inland Revenues website at http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/businesses/index.shtml has all the information and forms you need, including advice on how to register a new business for corporation tax. Their award winning guide about starting up a business can be downloaded from http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk

Business Rates
The Valuation Office website at http://www.voa.gov.uk holds information on the business rating and council tax valuation lists for England and valuing property for the purposes of taxes administered by the Inland Revenue

Enquiries about business rates can be answered by going in to one of our customer access points (go to /AtoZ/atozDetail?ID=6812), calling our non-domestic rates team on 01472 323770 or by sending an email to businessrates@nelincs.gov.uk.

Commercial Property
The Council has some commercial property available to let. Go to /atoz/atozdetail?id=7700 for more detail and useful contact numbers.

More information about commercial sites and premises in the North East Lincolnshire area can be found at /business/businesssites/sites+and+premises.htm.

Business parks and Europarc
The Council runs several business parks and centres with units to let, including the one at Europarc near Immingham. To find out more about Europarc, go to http://www.europarc.com/, or to find out about locating your business at a local business park, go to /AtoZ/atozDetail?ID=7232.

You can also view information on the Council business centres at Alexandra Dock (/AtoZ/atozDetail?ID=6867), Cleethorpes (/AtoZ/atozDetail?ID=6869) and Grimsby (/AtoZ/atozDetail?ID=6870).

Business Planning
The Council can provide advice on business planning - go to /AtoZ/atozDetail?ID=7221 or call 01472 325954.

Many banks offer free business advice, business loans and small business start-up packages. Check in with your local branch or go to www.yell.co.uk to find a bank near you.

Economic overview - Food Town
Grimsby is considered to be Europe's 'Food Town', due the large number of food producers based in the area. More information on the businesses which have invested here, property, services, support companies and investment opportunities, go to http://www.food-town.co.uk/.

More statistics about the demographics and economic status of the North East Lincolnshire area can be found at /business/economicstatistics/The_Local_Economy-_An_Overview.htm.

Ports
Grimsby and Immingham are both port towns, and part of the Ports Partnership. To find out more, go to the Grimsby and Immingham Ports Partnership pages at http://www.ports-uk.com/.

Disability Discrimination Act
All businesses must comply with and be aware of the Disability Discrimination Act of 1995. More information about the legislation can be found at http://www.disability.gov.uk/dda/.

Commercial Waste Management
Information on commercial waste can be found at /AtoZ/atozDetail?ID=7133.

Environmental Health
The Council's Environmental Health Team can offer advice on licensing, food safety and preparation, health and safety enforcement, pollution and port health. Go to /environment/environmentalhealth/ to find out more.

Trading Standards
New businesses must always bear in mind trading standards legislation. To get advice, or just find out what our Trading Standards team does, go to http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/nelincs/.