There are a range of organisations and programmes that can support your business in a number of ways. You can find some of them listed below, with links to the relevant websites

Name: Federation of Small Businesses
Website:fsb.org.uk
Mission: To help smaller businesses achieve their ambitions. A business campaigning group which ensures the voice of small businesses is heard at the highest level across the UK.
Description: The FSB is a not-for-profit organisation that represents small and medium-sized businesses. Originally formed in 1974 as the National Federation of Self Employed it changed to its current name in 1991. As well as the important networking element, other benefits of joining include: a legal advice hub and protections scheme, cyber protection helpline and insurance, tax investigation protection, debt recovery service, health and safety advice, plus a range of benefits and discounts on typical small business services from third-party providers

Name: Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed
Website:ipse.co.uk
Mission: Empowering, protecting and connecting our members for success, making IPSE the association of choice for the self-employed.
Description: IPSE is a not-for-profit association that represents freelancers, consultants, contractors and others following the self-employment route. Benefits of membership include: tax and legal helplines, contract review service, discounts and deals on third-party services such as insurance, a group pension offer, and various guides and events

Name: The Forum of Private Business
Website:fpb.org
Mission: “We are dedicated to providing our members with solid business advice, support and protection helping business owners to focus on profitability, growth and long-term business success.”
Description: A not-for-profit organisation founded in 1977 primarily made up of companies that employ between 1-50 employees. It provides business support and protection to SMEs across the UK. Key benefits for members include online guides, regular business and regulatory updates, free breakfast networking events, and a dedicated 24/7 business support forum.

Name: SME Alliance
Website:smealliance.org
Mission: “We are here to help SME’s make a change, have a voice and finally be listened to with regard to the issues that affect them the most.
Description: Started in 2014, SME Alliance is a member-based organisation set up to support, share knowledge, network and lobby with, and on behalf of, SME owners who have fallen victim to banking, financial and regulatory misconduct

Name: Small Business Britain
Website:smallbusinessbritain.uk
Mission: To inspire and accelerate small businesses in the UK to foster growth and increased confidence.
Description: Founded in 2016 by Michelle Ovens CBE, it manages events, runs campaigns and creates reports designed to champion small businesses throughout the nation

Name: The Association of Small Businesses
Website:asb-uk.org
Mission: To reduce the number of businesses failing within the first 5 years of trading – To provide members opportunities to acquire more business – To cultivate a strong business community.
Description: A free to join, not-for-profit community of small businesses coming together for mutual benefit. It’s main offer is one of mutual support services, for example in the form of sharing contacts, actively seeking business opportunities for one another, and to leverage group purchasing power to secure discounted deals on multiple goods and services. The association is run by a voluntary panel of small business owners

Name: British Chambers of Commerce
Website:britishchambers.org.uk
Mission: “Our network exists to support and connect companies, bringing together firms to build new relationships, share best practice, foster new opportunities and provide practical support to help member businesses trade locally, nationally and globally.”
Description: There are 53 ‘Accredited Chambers’ which make up the BCC network. Together, they represent tens of thousands of businesses of all shapes and sizes, which employ almost six million people across the UK. To join you should first seek out your local chamber which can be found here: