Friday, 17 July 2009

Second Post

So here's the list of weblinks as promised on the first post.

By the way, I mentioned igotmunchies.co.uk but never explained the relevance. Well, igotmunchies is a site that links to local food takeaway services on the internet. The business took off and now they are running a competition to help other people in the Newport area set up their own online business. If you look at the "Competition" link you can find out all about it.

So what about that list of links then?

I've not had chance to check these sites out yet - that's the point of this blog - so I can store the links and easily check through them when I have time or whenver I need to.

www.enterprisequest.com - This site has practical startup tips and ideas.

www.scavenger.net - Practical factsheets, small business guide, market reports, 300 business profiles of business opportunities, reports for small businesses

www.opsi.gov.uk - Office of Public Sector Information

Next, links for finding info on businesses:


www.ons.gov.uk - Office of National Statistics - to get statistics (obviously!)

www.ons.gov.uk/census - for census information

www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk - local stats

www.upmystreet.com
- analysis of area - education etc.

www.checkmyfile.com - same as above - local area stuff

And some discussion forums:

www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk

and blogs.....

www.socialmedialibrary.co.uk

Trade association forums...


www.taforum.org

www.britishservices.co.uk/associations.htm

Info on business customers..


www.icnetwork.co.uk- click on Business Finder

www.british-towns.net
- to find info about businesses in area

www.direct.gov.uk - directory of businesses in area

www.nfea.com - enterprise eye

www.britishchambers.org.uk - info about businesses in area

Online Networking...

www.business-network.co.uk - new developments

www.connectbuzz.com - online business networking club

www.bizface.co.uk/bizfaceforum - online forum - info on business opportunities

Trade mags..


www.mediauk.com - all mags list

www.tradepub.com - list of trade publications

Info on competitors - How much they charge etc.

www.kompass.co.uk/info/op_ukk_register.htm
- UK Kompass Register

www.dnb.co.uk/sales_marketing/EKBE.asp

www.kellysearch.co.uk - Business 2 Business

Basic Info....

www.askalix.com

www.countryweb.co.uk

www.britishcompanies.co.uk

www.yell.com

www.thomsonlocal.com

www.statistics.gov.uk - free stats

www.bl.uk - British Library

Thursday, 16 July 2009

First post

This is the first post on "Risca Business Startup Blog" or "rbsb2.blogspot.com".

I've spent the past year teaching BTEC Business. I've had to do a lot of research to help my lesson preparation. In this time I have found some useful links on the internet about business. I was looking mostly for sites to help me teach BTEC. Along the way I have found resources that help people start up their own business.

The most useful resource I've found is not on the internet - as I understand - but is available on the intranet in Newport Library. It's called CoBRA. This stands for Complete Business Reference (can't remember what the "A" stands for!). To access it you have to go into the Reference section of the library and ask to be logged into CoBRA. They will put the passwords in for you and get you started. They will probably give you a little tour of the site depending on which staff member you get or how busy they are.

CoBRA has many Business Opportunity Profiles (BOPs) - e.g. BOP 504 Private Music Tutor. This profile would contain a lot of useful information about starting up a business as a private music tutor. It would tell you what sort of equipment you might need, how much it would all cost, any legal issues you might need to consider, useful websites and services you can register with etc.

Also, CoBRA has a vast array of information and weblinks for everything you might need to know when starting up a business. I used it recently and wrote down a load of links that might help me with my lesson planning but also help me with my interest in starting my own business - I started my own record label with a friend in 1998 and I am a private maths tutor. Now I am thinking of starting other ventures.

So, whilst lying in bed just now I thought about setting up a blog to record all the links that I find about starting up a business. I can use it as an "aide memoire" and it enables me to share this information with others.

The first website that sounded useful as a business resource is www.scavenger.net

This site has business opportunity profiles - but you have to pay for them - about six quid each. You receive then as PDFs in an email. This would be the same info that you could get for free in Newport Library on CoBRA (I presume so as I've not bought any).

What I will do with this blog is publish all the links that I've written down so far about setting up your own business. I linked the scavenger site first as it is the most memorable name I came across and not because it is neccessarily the most useful.

Oh yeah, if you're thinking of setting up your own business - good luck!! Just thought of another useful link - igotmunchies.co.uk