East Midlands Development Agency (emda) is one of nine Regional Development Agencies in England set up in 1999 to bring a regional focus to economic development.

You could be living in the East Midlands and looking for a better job, better qualifications or training. You might be considering starting a business or already running one. Or perhaps you're thinking of investing or have an idea to improve the community you're living in. We could help you succeed.

The Nottingham University Business School  is one of the leading centres of excellence in enterprise education in Europe and a founder member of the UK Science Enterprise Centre Network.

Its mission is to be a centre of excellence in the development of enterprise and entrepreneurial skills, innovation and understanding the commercialisation of research. Globally, it is recognised that creativity, innovation, risk, knowledge transfer and technology transfer are key to competitiveness. UNIEI provides the Business School and the University with the platform to build on these issues.

For general business advice visit the Business Link website.  You will find advice on whether you are eligible to receive a grant, what support is available to businesses from the Government including financial support, advice, information and skills training.  You can also search their database for business grants, loans, expertise and advice that your business.

The Hive (Nottingham Trent University's) provides a fully supported germination and incubation environment to help entrepreneurs start up their own businesses. The Centre also provides expert help, support from relevant service providers, and access to the knowledge base and expertise available within Nottingham Trent University. They also offer mentoring programmes from 12 weeks to 3 years.

Shell LiveWIRE helps 16 – 30 year olds to start and develop their own business and hosts a national competition for new business start-ups.  Shell LiveWIRE Provides…

• Information, advice and practical support for 16-30 year olds starting up their own business
• 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 young business mentors
• an interactive web service and idea exchange

Nottinghamshire Business Venture (NBV) is an independent local enterprise agency established in 1982 to encourage the formation and development of small businesses. NBV specialises in the provision of start-up advice, business training, information and after-care services. To date over 25,000 clients have been seen, many of whom are now running very successful businesses.

NNC provides education and training opportunities for students from the age of 14 upwards, many students being adult learners. NNC offer a wide variety of courses leading to nearly 350 different qualifications in almost 40 major subject areas, from Business Studies and Computing to Hair & Beauty and Nursing & Social Care. They also offer work based learning and apprenticeship courses. 

North Notts CREATE is the business division of North Nottinghamshire College and offers a wide range of programmes and services to meet your needs as a local employer.  Courses can be tailor made to suit individual company needs.