Business advice and support

Our ambition is to make the county prosperous and economically successful by supporting an economy which builds on the county's strengths and resources, brings opportunity and improves the standard of living for our residents.

We also try to encourage new employers and businesses to the county and the economic development team provides strategic support and advice to businesses and employers. There are also a number of organisations that provide specialist information and advice to new and existing businesses.

If you are looking for help and support for your business, the Marches Growth Hub is the best place to start. It provides a one stop shop for information and guidance on all the business support that is available to enterprises in Herefordshire across the region, no matter what their size or sector.

Business support

• The Government website GOV.UK contains essential information, support and services, including useful online tools, calculators and best practice case studies. It also gives access to funding options
• Federation of Small Businesses is the UK's largest campaigning pressure group promoting and protecting the interests of the self-employed and owners of small firms
• Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce is a member-led, not for profit organisation that supports the local business community and specifically its network of member businesses
• Marches Growth Hub offers a single point of access to information and guidance on business grants, loans, support and advice available to enterprises across the region, regardless of sector or size of development. Developed by The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership (MLEP), the virtual hub is a business-friendly website, where start-ups, SMEs and large employers can search for products and services and be signposted to advice and support
• Marches Local Enterprise Partnership is a business-led private and public sector group that works to regenerate the economy of Herefordshire and other parts of the Welsh Marches
• Social enterprise business support - Social enterprises are businesses set up to tackle social problems and/or improve the environment. They operate in all areas of business from transport to catering, tourism, care farms, horticulture, cultural, arts, community shops and cafes. Social enterprises can also take over the running of public services and service delivery