Entrepreneurs should make more of free resources that are available to help them grow their businesses, according to insurance company More Th>n.

Despite small businesses accounting for almost half of all jobs in the UK and the growing popularity of working from home, many small businesses need help in areas such as HR, finance, sales and marketing, says Mike Bowman, head of More Th>n Business.

"Small businesses are the backbone of the UK economy and need a lot of support in order to grow and flourish," he said. "The spotlight is often focused on extending levels of government support. However, there is a massive pool of freely available advice that is currently not being fully exploited."

More Th>n suggests entrepreneurs consider seeking advice from the following bodies to help give their venture the best chance of flourishing:

Industry bodies, forums and associations
These are a great source of professional support and advice across education, training and sector specific issues. The Glasgow Chamber of Commerce (GCoC), for example, is a significant business aid and advice centre for small businesses based in the area, organising business seminars, networking and support events on a regular basis for its members

Banks and financial institutions
Provided you don't sign on the dotted-line, utilising all the expert advice from financial organisations regulated by the FSA is a brilliant way to get a head start and it's free. A bank manager or an independent financial adviser will be able to assess your current needs and identify potential financial options for you to consider. Also, banks often have offers available aimed at making the finance side of starting your business as easy as possible

Industry events
There are several events for small businesses that take place in the UK throughout the year which are free to attend. Business Startup or Growing Your Own Business, for example, can offer help and advice on any issue that small businesses might face: from websites to taxation, accountancy to book-keeping, raising finance to controlling cashflow

Major international companies
Some companies provide practical advice as part of their CSR education and training programmes and have been committed during the last couple of years to offering advice and support for start-ups. Shell, for example, has a created a portal called LiveWIRE which provides information, advice and practical support for 16-30-year-olds starting up their own business. It offers a free ‘essential business kit' to every caller, tailored to their specific business idea, one-to-one advice through a national network of local business advisers and mentors and an interactive web service and idea exchange

The internet
Thanks to the internet, you can now harness valuable worldwide resources and information on new and existing markets, competition and customers