416 lines
17 KiB
XML
Executable File
416 lines
17 KiB
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Executable File
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<cms:item xmlns:cms="http://www.arsdigita.com/cms/1.0" xmlns="http://www.esd.org.uk/standards/esdbody" oid="[com.arsdigita.cms.contenttypes.ESDService:{id=349}]"><cms:name>business-advice-349</cms:name><cms:language>en</cms:language><cms:title>Business Advice</cms:title><cms:dublinCore oid="[com.arsdigita.london.cms.dublin.DublinCoreItem:{id=349}]"><cms:name>business-advice-349-dublin-metadata</cms:name><cms:dcAudience>General Public</cms:dcAudience><cms:dcCoverage>content="99XX" scheme="ONS SNAC"</cms:dcCoverage><cms:dcCoveragePostcode/><cms:dcCoverageSpatialRef/><cms:dcCoverageUnit/><cms:dcDateValid/><cms:dcDisposalReview/><cms:dcLanguage>en</cms:dcLanguage><cms:dcTemporalBegin/><cms:dcTemporalEnd/><cms:dcCreatorOwner>LAWS Project - Starter Kit - http://www.laws-project.org.uk</cms:dcCreatorOwner><cms:dcCreatorContact>LAWS Project - Starter Kit - http://www.laws-project.org.uk</cms:dcCreatorContact><cms:dcPublisher>Tameside MBC - LAWS project - http://laws.tameside.gov.uk</cms:dcPublisher><cms:dcRights/><cms:dcKeywords>business, advice</cms:dcKeywords></cms:dublinCore><cms:textAsset oid="[com.arsdigita.cms.TextAsset:{id=349}]"><cms:content><![CDATA[<h2>Miscellaneous</h2><span class="gen">email address here</span><span class="gen">phone number here</span><span class="gen">sms phone number here</span><span class="gen">fax number here</span><span class="gen">minicom number here</span><p><i>Whether you are starting a business or you have been running a business for 10 years, chances are you will need some help on specific issues or general issues. </i></p><hr/><p>We are here to help local business with all its
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support and development needs. We
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have a wide range of
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services at our disposal provided by a large number of organisations, including
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the Enterprise Agency, Business Link, our Economic Development
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Unit, Chamber of Commerce, the Training and Enterprise
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Council and many more. </p><p>We receive government funding and private sponsorship to provide certain services
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free of charge, such as guidance on starting a business, and we access subsidies
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wherever we can, making it possible for small and medium sized enterprises
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to benefit from advice and assistance that will improve their growth prospects. </p><p>We aim to give assistance on most aspects business.
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In addition to on-line information resources, there are specialist advisers
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who will deal with your
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needs on an individual basis. This could be something specific, such as an
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aspect of employment law, or something more general, such as how to increase
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profits over the next 3 years. </p><p>Other agencies that can provide advice to businesses,
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on a whole range of subjects can be found on the
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<a href="http://www.dti.gov.uk/for_business_small_business.html">
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<strong>Department
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for Trade
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and Industry</strong>
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</a>
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<span class="gen">link to external website</span> website.</p><h2>Starting a New Business</h2><ul>
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<li title="*">
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<strong>
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<a href="#t1">Thinking of
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starting a business</a>
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</strong>
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</li>
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<li title="*">
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<strong>
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<a href="#t2">Where can I
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find business opportunities within the area?</a>
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</strong>
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</li>
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<li title="*">
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<strong>
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<a href="#t3">Can I get any
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financial support, grants or loans?</a>
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</strong>
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</li>
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<li title="*">
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<strong>
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<a href="#t4">Are there any
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courses that I may find useful?</a>
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</strong>
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</li>
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<li title="*">
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<strong>
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<a href="#t15">What taxes
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will I have to pay?</a>
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</strong>
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</li>
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<li title="*">
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<strong>
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<a href="#t5">Where can I
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get property advice?</a>
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</strong>
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</li>
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<li title="*">
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<strong>
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<a href="#t6">Do I need planning
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permission?</a>
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</strong>
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</li>
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<li title="*">
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<strong>
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<a href="#t7">Do I need a
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licence?</a>
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</strong>
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</li>
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<li title="*">
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<strong>
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<a href="#t8">What standards
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do I need to abide by?</a>
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</strong>
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</li>
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<li title="*">
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<strong>
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<a href="#t9">Will I need
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to pay business rates?</a>
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</strong>
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</li>
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<li title="*">
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<strong>
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<a href="#t10">Where can I
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get rid of trade waste?</a>
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</strong>
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</li>
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<li title="*">
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<strong>
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<a href="#t11">How do I recruit
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staff?</a>
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</strong>
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</li>
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<li title="*">
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<strong>
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<a href="#t12">What is e-business?</a>
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</strong>
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</li>
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</ul><h2>
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Thinking of starting a business</h2><p>One of the major obstacles in the decision to
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set up a small business and become self-employed is a fear of the hurdles
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and the regulations associated with "going it alone", as well
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as a worry about the viability of the venture. These need not be something
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to be concerned about if they are tackled in an organised way and if advice
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and guidance is sought from people who are experienced and trained to help. </p><p>The Enterprise Agency has help and guidance for
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a new business start-up. Because it is funded by government and private sponsorship
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it is provided at no-cost to the budding entrepreneur. The objective of the
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Agency is to encourage the creation of new businesses and to make sure these
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new businesses prosper and grow. </p><p>The Agency Advisers are qualified and are members
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of the Institute of Business Advisers. They are knowledgeable in what needs
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to done to make the experience of starting a new business enjoyable and rewarding. </p><p>You can find your nearest Enterprise Agency on
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the
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<a href="http://www.nfea.com/index.htm?page=find_lea.htm">
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<strong>National
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Federation of Enterprise Agencies</strong>
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</a>
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<span class="gen">link to external website</span> website.</p><p>The Council is also committed to providing a wide
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range of services to local businesses and the community at large. The
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Council's Economic Development Unit plays a key role in encouraging investment
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in the area. The Unit is also working to increase the quality and
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variety of work skills offered to residents, helping them to make
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the most of new employment and training opportunities as they are created.</p><p>More information about
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<a href="/ccm/services/pid.jsp?pid=347">
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<strong>Economic
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Development</strong>
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</a>
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<span class="gen">link to pid 374</span> and
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<a href="/ccm/services/pid.jsp?pid=348">
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<strong>Economic Intelligence</strong>
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</a>
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<span class="gen">link to pid 348</span> is available.</p><h2>
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Where can I find business opportunities
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within the
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area?</h2><p>To look for businesses for sale in the area you
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can look in the local press, or visit some of the many websites that deal with
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the sale of businesses. A small selection are below</p><ul>
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<li title="*">
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<a href="http://www.businessesforsale.com">
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<strong>www.businessesforsale.com</strong>
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</a>
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<span class="gen">link to external website</span>
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</li>
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<li title="*">
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<a href="http://www.businesssalesonline.com">
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<strong>www.businesssalesonline.com</strong>
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</a>
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<span class="gen">link to external website</span>
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</li>
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<li title="*">
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<a href="http://www.daltons.co.uk/business">
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<strong>www.daltons.co.uk/business</strong>
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</a>
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<span class="gen">link to external website</span>
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</li>
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</ul><p>
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<strong>Franchises</strong>
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</p><p>There are around 600 businesses in the UK that
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are franchised but what is franchising and would it be suitable for you?</p><p>It's a way of setting up in business for yourself
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but not on your own. With a franchise you run the business, but using methods
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that have been already tried and tested by another company, called the
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franchisor.</p><p>It is a way of being your own boss without many
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of the risk factors. However, you are ultimately answerable to the
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franchisor and this approach may not be for some people.</p><p>There are a large number of websites that deal
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with selling franchises a small number are listed below:</p><ul>
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<li title="*">
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<a href="http://www.franinfo.co.uk">
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<strong>www.franinfo.co.uk</strong>
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</a>
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<span class="gen">link to external website</span>
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</li>
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<li title="*">
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<a href="http://www.british-franchise.org">
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<strong>www.british-franchise.org</strong>
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</a>
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<span class="gen">link to external website</span>
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</li>
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<li title="*">
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<a href="http://www.360franchising.co.uk">
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<strong>www.360franchising.co.uk</strong>
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</a>
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<span class="gen">link to external website</span>
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</li>
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</ul><h2>
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Can I get any financial support, grants or loans?</h2><p>The Council is able to offer grants when funding
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allows, however, these schemes are discretionary and may have restricted
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eligibility. For information on current schemes please go to the
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<a href="/ccm/services/pid.jsp?pid=350">
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<strong>Business
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Grants</strong>
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</a> page. <span class="gen">link to pid 350</span>
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</p><p>
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<strong>New Deal for people starting
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their own business</strong>
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</p><p>New Deal is a government initiative that offers
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help for people who want to set up and run their own business. Help with
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a
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business plan and a test trading period is available as well as a jobfinders
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grant. For more information visit the website
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<a href="http://www.newdeal.gov.uk/english/self_employment">
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<strong>www.newdeal.gov.uk/english/self_employment</strong>
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</a>
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<span class="gen">link to external website</span>
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</p><h2>
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Are there any courses that I may find useful?</h2><p>Learndirect run a number of courses that may be
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useful to you including IT courses such as word processing, databases and
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spreadsheets. They also run essential business and management skills
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courses covering finance, marketing, personnel and health and safety. There
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are a number of Learndirect centres throughout the region.</p><p>For more information about Learndirect visit the
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website at
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<a href="http://www.learndirect.co.uk">
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<strong>www.learndirect.co.uk</strong>
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</a>
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<span class="gen">link to external website</span>
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</p><p>Other locally run courses are as follows:</p><p>
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<span class="gen">enter details</span>
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</p><h2>
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What taxes will I have to pay?</h2><p>The Inland Revenue have put information on their
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website especially for people starting up their own business. Visit the
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website at
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<a href="http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/startingup/index.htm">
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<strong>www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/startingup/index.htm</strong>
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</a>
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<span class="gen">link to external website</span>
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</p><p>There is also a help line run by the Inland Revenue for newly self employed
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people. Telephone number 0845 9154
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515, which is open from 8am - 8pm.</p><h2>
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Where can I get property advice?</h2><p>For details of business properties
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currently available in the area, please complete
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the on-line form on the
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<a href="/ccm/services/pid.jsp?pid=677">
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<strong>Property Enquiries</strong>
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</a>
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<span class="gen">link to pid 677</span> page.
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</p><h2>
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Do I need planning permission?</h2><p>Planning holds a balance between the need for
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new development and the need to protect the environment and tries to ensure
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all
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development is environmentally sustainable. Construction methods also need
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to comply with the Building Regulations for which there is a separate set of
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approvals.More information can be found on the
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<a href="/ccm/services/pid.jsp?pid=499">
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<strong>Building
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Control</strong>
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</a> page. <span class="gen">link to pid 499</span>
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</p><p>
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<strong>Working from home</strong>
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</p><p>
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You do not usually need planning permission just to work from home but
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sometimes you do.</p><p>The key test is whether the residence has changed
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because of the business. If the answer to any of the following questions
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is "yes", then you will probably need permission:</p><ul>
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<li title="*"> Is
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your house no longer chiefly a private residence?</li>
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<li title="*"> Will
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your business result in a marked rise in traffic, people calling or working
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around the house or in out buildings?</li>
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<li title="*">Will
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your business involve obvious activities not usual in a residential street?</li>
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<li title="*">Will
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your business disturb your neighbours because of noise or smells?</li>
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</ul><p> Basically you need to ask yourself if the house is still mainly a home
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or has it become business premises? This is whatever the business, including using a room as an
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office, hairdressing, repairing cars, storing goods, using part of the house as
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a bedsit, running a "bed and breakfast", providing childminding or
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music teaching.
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</p><h2>
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Do I need a licence?</h2><p>Many businesses require a licence eg.
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hairdressers, pet shops and places of public entertainment. For
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appropriate advice and guidance covering all aspects of trading, licensing and
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public health legislation contact <span class="gen">enter details</span>.</p><h2>
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What standards do I need to abide by?</h2><p>Trading Standards and Consumer Services
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is a strategic Local Authority service contributing to the well-being
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of the local and business community through its enforcement activities and
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advisory
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services. </p><p>The Trading Standards division will give talks to
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any business, consumer group, school or any other organisation on the work
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carried out by the Trading Standards service in the following areas:
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</p><ul>
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<li title="*">
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<strong>
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<a href="/ccm/services/pid.jsp?pid=404">Weights and Measures</a>
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</strong>
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<span class="gen">link to pid 404</span>
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</li>
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<li title="*">
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<strong>
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<a href="/ccm/services/pid.jsp?pid=791">Food Labelling</a>
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</strong>
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<span class="gen">link to pid 791</span>
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</li>
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<li title="*">
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<strong>
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<a href="/ccm/services/pid.jsp?pid=402">Product and Toy Safety</a>
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</strong>
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<span class="gen">link to pid 402</span>
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</li>
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<li title="*">
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<strong>Home Safety</strong>
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</li>
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<li title="*">
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<strong>
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<a href="/ccm/services/pid.jsp?pid=787">Your Rights when Shopping</a>
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</strong>
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<span class="gen">link to pid 787</span>
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</li>
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<li title="*">
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<strong>Credit, Borrowing and Lending </strong>
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</li>
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<li title="*">
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<strong>General Work of the Trading Standards</strong>
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</li>
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</ul><p>Other subject areas that are not listed can be
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arranged on request. </p><p>More information can be found on the
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<a href="/ccm/services/pid.jsp?pid=401">
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<strong>Trading
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Standards Advice to Business</strong>
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</a> page. <span class="gen">link to pid 401</span>
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</p><h2>
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Will I need to pay business rates?</h2><p>For
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information on business rates use the following links:</p><ul>
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<li title="*">
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<strong>
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<a href="/ccm/services/pid.jsp?pid=54">Business Rates - General Information</a>
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</strong>
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<span class="gen">link to pid 54</span>
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</li>
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<li title="*">
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<strong>
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<a href="/ccm/services/pid.jsp?pid=55">Business Rates - Reductions</a>
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</strong>
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<span class="gen">link to pid 55</span>
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</li>
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<li title="*">
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<strong>
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<a href="/ccm/services/pid.jsp?pid=56">Business Rates - Individual Account Enquiries
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(including new accounts)</a>
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</strong>
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<span class="gen">link to pid 56</span>
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</li>
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</ul><h2>
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Where can I get rid of trade waste?</h2><p>This service is available to all
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<a href="/ccm/services/pid.jsp?pid=517">commercial and
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industrial premises</a> in the area. <span class="gen">link to pid 517</span>
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</p><p>The Council also carries out
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<a href="/ccm/services/pid.jsp?pid=431">commercial pest
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control work for local businesses</a> . <span class="gen">link to pid 431</span>
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</p><h2>
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How do I recruit staff?</h2><p>The Council is committed to attracting new jobs
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to the area and works in partnership with other agencies to ensure residents
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benefit from employment opportunities created. For more
|
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information visit the
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<a href="/ccm/services/pid.jsp?pid=343">employment and training initiatives</a> webpage <span class="gen">link to pid 343</span>
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</p><p>Your local job centre will advise you on
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recruiting staff and will advertise positions in the local centres free of
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charge. For more information, advice and to find your local job centre
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look at the website
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<a href="http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk">
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<strong>www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk</strong>
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</a>
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<span class="gen">link to external website</span>
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</p><p>You can also contact the local employment
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agencies to help recruit permanent or temporary staff although there will be
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a
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charge for this. </p><p>You can also advertise in the local press.</p><h2>
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What is e-business?</h2><p>e-business relates to businesses utilising new
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information and communication technologies such as e-mail, the world wide
|
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web and e-commerce. </p><p>The following are e-business projects/services on offer in the area:</p><p>
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<span class="gen">enter details</span>
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</p><span class="gen">email address here</span><span class="gen">phone number here</span><span class="gen">sms phone number here</span><span class="gen">fax number here</span><span class="gen">minicom number here</span><span class="gen">postal address here</span><h3>
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<a href="/ccm/services/pid.jsp?pid=349"> Providing Information
|
|
(349)
|
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</a></h3>]]></cms:content></cms:textAsset></cms:item>
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