New Business is pleased to be associated with Nick Ogden's new initiative to assist Businesses in getting off the ground and to make available to them our business advice and guidance.
Nick Ogden, the 2010 National Business Awards Entrepreneur of the Year winner and founder of WorldPay and Voice Commerce Group, has just launched Business.co.uk a non-for-profit online portal designed to encourage British entrepreneurs to setup and start running their own businesses.
Business.co.uk is a unique portal providing new business start ups with immediate access to discounts, offers and incentives through its rapidly growing number of partnerships.
Companies offering incentives include BT Group, School for Startups, NatWest, easyJet, AXA Insurance, Fasthosts Internet Ltd and RJJ Freight Ltd, all of which have developed individual programmes to encourage and support business starts ups in the UK. Business.co.uk intends to develop the portal further by adding interactive consumer services that will encourage entrepreneurs to take the leap of setting up a new business.
These services will allow them to search and buy products and services from other UK based business at a regional and local level, thereby supporting UK trade.
Commenting on the launch of business.co.uk Nick Ogden said:
“Small firms contribute more than 49 per cent of the UK turnover (FSB October 2010) and are therefore the lifeblood of the UK economy. Off the back of recent Government initiatives, including the expansion of the New Enterprise Allowance (NEA), I have encouraged many established companies to get on board with business.co.uk and offer financial incentives to help create an environment that fosters new business growth. So far, support has been overwhelming and it is our aim that through this portal and its many partner firms we can not only encourage start-ups but also equip them with the tools necessary to succeed.”
Partner company quotes
Anna Matty, Business Marketing Director, BT said: "Startups are a critical wealth creator for the British economy and BT is determined to help people to realise their business ideas. We are excited to be backing business.co.uk and have put together our best-value startup communications package for site members, offering them the opportunity to get a business line, calls and broadband for less than the price of a daily business newspaper."
Doug Richard, founder of School for Startups said: "Peer-to-peer networking by new business owners is critical to their success. Business.co.uk strives to create a network of mutually supportive startups and small businesses and simultaneously invites the UK to spend their money domestically rather than sending it abroad. Good for UK entrepreneurs, good for their communities, a good effort all round.”
Darrell Sansom, General Manager, AXA Solutions said:
“AXA Insurance recognise the importance of new business start ups to the UK economy and are delighted to support small businesses through business.co.uk. We are experts in small business insurance and have a range of flexible options so our customers can tailor their insurance to meet their needs.”
Steve Holford, Marketing Director at Fasthosts Internet Ltd said:
“We are pleased to support the launch of business.co.uk, as the portal is certain to provide a valuable and effective resource for UK entrepreneurs. Access to such information and tailored business offers can make a real competitive difference to small firms. Research shows that maintaining a high-quality web presence has never been so important, but this remains a significant challenge for many business owners today. Fasthosts aims to help by providing business.co.uk users with a unique, risk-free trial for business web hosting packages, enabling any firm to overhaul their website and ensure it is performing as it should.”
Sten Bagert, Managing Director, RJJ Freight Ltd commented: “RJJ Freight Ltd work with many established SME’s and are happy to support business.co.uk and new businesses who need to get supplies or goods moved worldwide. We focus on customer service and are proud of our shipping knowledge and reputation and the repeat business we get.”
