Useful contacts
Advice, tips and tactics – the contacts below offer a range of information that will help you to turn talent into turnover.
Also visit our Show Support site – countrylivingshowsupport.com – to get in touch with some of our successful CL Fair exhibitors, many of whom started at a kitchen table themselves!
Courses & Qualifications
- BBC Learning- Adult learning advice
- LearnDirect- England and Wales’ official online learning resource with a section for business-related courses (Tel. 0800 101901)
- Mind Tools- Free internet resource with life-skills tips (Tel. 02077 887978)
- Money for Learning- Financial support (Tel. 0845 6022260)
- Open College of the Arts- Home-study courses in arts, crafts and design (Tel. 0800 7312116)
- Skills Development Scotland- Advice on skills development available in Scotland (Tel. 01412 856000)
- The Open University- Part-time higher education (Tel. 0845 3006090)
- Timebank- Raising awareness of the value of giving time to volunteering (Tel. 0845 4561668)
- UK Commission for Employment and Skills- Advice from business owners (Tel. 01709 774800)
- Volunteering Databases: Help with how to start volunteering
England, (Tel. 0207 5208900)
Scotland, (Tel. 01786 479593)
Wales, (Tel. 0800 2888329)
Northern Ireland, (Tel.028 9023 2020)
Business Support
- Bitsythis.com- Sourcebook of people who can help your business grow
- British Franchise Association- Advice on franchises (Tel. 01235 820 470)
- Business Connect Wales- Business mentoring and tips for starting-up in Wales (Tel. 0208 3341600)
- Business Gateway- Check to see the company name or trade mark you are thinking of using for your business is already registered (Tel. 0845 609 6611)
- Business Link- Official small business support service in England
- Charity Commission- Offers advice to charities in England and Wales (Tel. 0845 300 0218)
- Community Interest Companies- Advice on CIC’s
- Highlands and Islands Enterprise- Scottish Government’s economic and community development agency (Tel. 01463 234 171)
- Invest Northern Ireland- Help starting up or relocating to NI (Tel. 0800 181 4422)
- Schools for Startups- Business training for entrepreneurs from former Dragons’ Den guru Doug Richard (Tel. 0207 7591897)
- The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator- The independent regulator of Scottish charities (Tel. 01382 220446)
- Plunkett Foundation- Advice and financing for rural projects (Tel. 01993 810730)
- Whichfranchise.com- Advice on franchises (Tel. 0141 2040050)
Market Research
- British Chambers of Commerce- Details of local chambers of commerce across the UK (Tel. 020 7654 5800)
- Countryside Council for Wales- Provides information and statistics on rural areas and market towns (Tel. 0845 130 6229)
- Commission for Rural Communities- State of the countryside report 2012 (Tel. 07900 608392 or 07786 174197)
- Market Research Society- A free guide to market research (Tel. 020 7490 4911)
- National Association of Local Councils- Provides good links to parish and community councils in England and Wales and other local government-related websites (Tel. 020 7637 1865)
- Office for National Statistics- Census and other statistical data (Tel. 0845 601 3034)
Rules & Regulations
- Food Standards Agency- Information and guidelines on hygine regulations (Tel. 202 7276 8829)
- Health and Safety Executive- Advice about health and safety regulations (Tel. 0845 345 0055)
- HM Revenue and Customs- Information on taxes (Tel. 0845 915 4515)
- Northern Ireland Environment Agency- The agency responsible for implementing environmental policies in NI (Tel. 028 9054 0540)
- Scottish Environment Protection Agency- Information on environmental policies in Scotland (Tel. 01786 457700)
- Trading Standards Institute- Outlines laws concerning trading standards (Tel. 0845 404 0506)
Raising Finance
- Co-operative and Community Finance- Finance advice for co-ops and social enterprises (Tel. 0117 906 6750)
- Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs- Details of rural development grant schemes (Tel. 0845 933 5577)
- Government Funding Database- Government grants to the voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland (Tel. 02890 829447)
- NFU Mutual- Finances for farm-related ventures (Tel. 0800 316 4661)
- The Prince’s Trust- Offers financial help to people ages 18-30 through loans, grants and mentors (Tel. 0800 842 842)
- Triodos Bank- Loans to environment/community-based businesses (Tel. 0800 328 2181)
Networking Advice
- Business in the Community- Promoting better business standards in the UK (Tel. 020 7566 8650)
- Country Land and Business Association- Organisation for owners of land, property and businesses in rural England and Wales (Tel. 0207 2350511)
- Enterprise Nation- Small-business support (Tel. 020 7235 8650)
- Everywoman- Business’ owners’ online network (Tel. 020 7981 2574)
- Federation of Small Businesses- Practical advice on starting a business (Tel. 0808 2020888)
- FARMA- National farmers’ retail and market association (Tel. 0845 4588420)
- Farmers’ Markets- Find out about your local farmers’ market (Tel. 0845 458 8420)
- Farmshop- Network of regional food suppliers and requirers (Tel. 07855 252 151)
- New Economics Foundation- Independent think-and-do tank that inspires real economic wellbeing (Tel. 020 7820 6300)
- Prowess- Trade association for women in business
- Rural women’s network- Support for women (Tel. 01768 869 511)
- Self-test temperament quizzes- Take a free quiz to identify your strengths
- WFU- The Woman’s Food and Farming Union (Tel. 0844 335 0342)
- WiRE Women in Rural Enterprise- Advice and support through workshops and events (Tel. 01952 815 338)
2012 KTTA winners
- Best Garden: Alyson Roberts
- Best Home: Esme Hunton
- Best Baker: Amelie Cresswell
- Best Craftsperson: Tracy Davies t.davies@blackburn.ac.uk
- Best Writer: Catherine Bain janebain1957@hotmail.com
- Best Artist: Amanda Colville
- Business-to-bBe: Gemma Faithfull
2011 KTTA winners
- Best Cook: Helen Damer thedamers@btinternet.com
- Best Home Designer: Karen Geobey
- Best Writer: Melinda Appleby melinda.appleby@mypostoffice.co.uk
- Best Craftsperson: Jo Butcher
- Best Artist: Lindsay Gallacher
- Talent of the Year: Susanna Spanring
2011 KTTA Businesses-to-be
- Lucy Levenson
- Screenprinter Lynne Rothery lynrothery@googlemail.com
- Lindi Oosthuizen lindi.frieda@btinternet.com
- Katherine Prentice
