To help you find websites you may need, we have grouped them into subjects.

Selecting a subject here will take you to the list of website links for that subject:

• Starting a Business
• Official Government Websites
• Business Representation and Support Organisations
• Local Government
• Banks

Starting a Business

The website you really should visit, for information before you start and to register your business when you start trading, is: HM Revenue and Customs (www.hmrc.gov.uk). You should find answers to all your Tax, National Insurance, import duty and VAT questions here.

For general advice, Business Link in the North East: www.businesslinknortheast.co.uk is the region's one-stop-shop for business information.  It is funded to support new and existing businesses.  
For more information, phone 0845 600 9 006 or e-mail: enquiries@businesslinknortheast.co.uk

If your business will provide services to Tourists visiting the North East: Tourism North East has been set up to provide information and advice specifically for you.

To research Business Names: The National Business Register is a commercial (that is, it's not official) website that lets you search for a business name to see if anyone is already trading with that name or using related trade marks or website addresses.
Ask your business advisor for more information about business names or the National Business Register.

Legal Advice: Lawyers for Your Business is a scheme operated by The Law Society. They can put you in touch with a solicitor who will give you a free first consultation.

Insurance: The insurance cover you need will depend on the characteristics of your business. It is worth seeking advice from an insurance broker. We know that Robertson-McIsaac Insurance Brokers Ltd offer a free consultation and no-obligation quotation to people starting a business, although we have no direct experience of their services. Obviously, they are hoping to win on-going business from you if you are pleased with their services, but the choice of broker is entirely up to you.

Finance: Business finance specialists Finance Tree run a programme called Finance & Business, providing advice, guidance and training to help you understand how business finance works. Much of the information and training is free.

Young people aged 16 to 30 will find support and advice about starting a business on the Shell LiveWIRE website.

Local support and advice may be available through the Council (Local Authority) where you live or intend to base your business.  Try these links for starters:

South Tyneside Means Business

Gateshead Council's Economic Development team

Durham

North Tyneside

Northumberland

Sunderland

or look in the Local Government links section:

Official Government Websites

Already mentioned, the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) website is a very useful site, full of guidance for business.
Most HMRC forms and guidance leaflets are available on-line.

The government department responsible for business affairs used to be the DTI, now it is the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) www.berr.gov.uk

UK Trade and Investment is the main channel of government help for exporters

Companies House - gives free access to basic data on registered companies

Office of Fair Trading - a range of guidance on consumer-related issues

Data Protection - website of the Information Commissioner www.ico.gov.uk for information about complying with the Data Protection Act

Intellectual Property Office - information on intellectual property - Patents, Trade Marks, Copyright and Design Right

Health & Safety Executive - includes information on implementing health and safety regulations in the workplace

Direct.gov - the official government website for UK citizens. This website provides links to a broad range of government resources.

Office of National Statistics - the UK's official provider of statistics. Useful if you need to know the number of people living in an area and a wide variety of other details of the economy and population of the UK.  Information is available for different sizes of area, from national to local.

Business Representation and Support Organisations

Business Links - the national business support network for England.

Shell LiveWIRE - supporting young people with a range of on-line resources for making life decisions and to assist those starting a business.

Federation of Small Businesses - a membership body representing the interests of many of the UK's small and medium-sized businesses.

Forum of Private Business - a membership body representing the interests of around 25,000 privately owned businesses in the UK.

Home Business Alliance - a membership body for people running a business from home

North East Chamber of Commerce - a membership body promoting networking activity and offering shared resources to businesses operating in the North East of England. It is a member of the British Chambers of Commerce - an organisation combining the interests of the regional Chambers of Commerce across Britain.

CBI - Confederation of British Industry - a membership body, lobbying for the interests of business at a national level and providing networking and representation at a regional level.

Local Government

Durham

Gateshead

Newcastle

North Tyneside

Northumberland

South Tyneside

Sunderland

For other Local Authority websites, have a look at:

Local Government Association - official site

Oultwood - a useful source page for local authority website links

Banks

Below is a list of some of the main banks offering accounts for small businesses. PNE does not recommend any particular bank and would also point out that there are other banks.

The Bank of England website contains information about the UK's monetary systems and policies.