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Thinking about starting a business? Have an idea to explore – or ready to launch? The MEC Resource Centre is here to support you

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For a successful business, you need a viable business idea, the skills to make it work and the funding. Discover whether your idea has what it takes.

Forming your business correctly is essential to ensure you are protected and you comply with the rules. Learn how to set up your business.

Advice on protecting your wellbeing, self-confidence and mental health from the pressures of starting and running a business.

Learn why business planning is an essential exercise if your business is to start and grow successfully, attract funding or target new markets.

It is likely you will need funding to start your business unless you have your own money. Discover some of the main sources of start up funding.

Businesses and individuals must account for and pay various taxes. Understand your tax obligations and how to file, account and pay any taxes you owe.

Businesses are required to comply with a wide range of business laws. We introduce the main rules and regulations you must comply with.

Marketing matters. It drives sales and helps promote your brand and products. Discover how to market your business and reach your target customers.

Some businesses need a high street location whilst others can be run from home. Understand the key factors from cost to location, size to security.

Your employees can your biggest asset. They can also be your biggest challenge. We explain how to recruitment and manage staff successfully.

It is likely your business could not function without some form of IT. Learn how to specify, buy, maintain and secure your business IT.

Few businesses manage the leap from start up to high-growth business. Learn what it takes to scale up and take your business to the next level.

A social enterprise is a business that trades to tackle social problems, improve communities, people’s life chances, or the environment.  A social enterprise is a business, not a charity, that makes money and profit. 

Sales and marketing

Marketing matters. It drives sales and helps promote your brand and products. Discover how to market your business and reach your target customers.

Resource topics

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Janie Thomson applied for a match-funding grant through her local council and this helped with initial marketing costs. Here are her publicity tips.
How to market your new business, including doing a SWOT analysis, developing a marketing strategy, creating a marketing plan and hitting sales targets
An essential guide to customer databases, direct mail and email marketing for small businesses.
Writing to customers and prospects, via email, leaflets or direct mail, can be an effective way to promote your business. Here's how to get results.
Public relations (PR) builds brand awareness, enhances your reputation, creates publicity and brings in new customers.
PR activities can help spread the word about your business for little money. This checklist explains how to promote your business through the press.
Use this checklist to help you write an effective press release, including how to structure it, what you need to include and what format to use.
How to use advertising to grow your business, including online advertising such as Pay Per Click, as well as print ads, radio, TV and cinema advertising
Exhibitions can be a great place to meet potential customers face to face. Here are the key steps to exhibition success.
Social media has transformed the way businesses talk to customers online. We explain here how social media can help your business.
Jane Lee of IT PR specialist Dexterity explains how start-ups can harness the power of effective public relations for the good of your business.
How do you look, behave or project yourself in a professional capacity? Does your personal brand give the message you want to project to customers?
Some ideas are so powerful they generate publicity year after year after year. These 14 tips might encourage journalists to cover your business.
If you want to secure positive coverage about your business, you have to present the media with a good story. We explain the golden rules.
How to sell your products or services to other businesses, including how to pitch for contracts, selling the benefits and how to close a deal.
Selling can be intimidating, but our useful checklist will help your prepare a sales pitch that will persuade the customer, overcome objections and close the sale.
How to plan your negotiating strategy, conduct a successful negotiation with customers and suppliers and get great deals for your business
We're not all natural-born salespeople, so we share some simple steps that can help you negotiate better sales.
It takes skill, but training, practice and experience can help anyone get better at selling. Andrew Milbourn, sales director of Kiss the Fish, explains.
If all you do when selling is list a product's features, you'll bore potential buyers and you're unlikely to get the sale. Try this approach instead.