Great Resources for Startup Businesses in Crawley
Posted on 20th January 2020
As a Horsham based web design company, we regularly talk to start-up companies in West Sussex and Surrey, and it is very common for them to be looking for information such as grant opportunities, networking events, office space, and local companies to do business with.
As a result, we recently wrote a blog post that pulled together a whole load of resources in the Horsham area. We got so many positive comments and such great feedback from local businesses about the post, and not just from start-ups, that we decided to do a similar exercise for resources in the Crawley area.
So if you are a business in the Crawley area, whether it be an established one or you are just starting out, we hope you find the information below useful.
Local Grants
Crawley Borough Council offers grants of up to £4,000 for small businesses through The Small Business Grants Scheme. It is available for eligible Crawley businesses:
Needing start-up funds
Looking to expand or improve
Creating new employment
The maximum grant amount a business can apply for is £4,000 and proposals need to be match funded by a minimum of 50% of the total value.
Visit the Crawley Borough Council website to read the guidance fact sheet and download the application form to see if your business and proposal are eligible to receive the grant.
Networking Groups and Events
Whether you are looking to meet potential new suppliers or customers, or to swap ideas with other local business owners, networking events are a great place to start.
Crawley has a wide range of networking groups and events - here are 7 which offer great variety:
1. BNI
BNI is an international business networking and referral organisation, and Victory BNI Crawley meet at 6.30am every Thursday at Copthorne Hotel London Gatwick, Copthorne Way, Copthorne.
2. 4NETWORKING (4N)
4N is 50% business, 50% social, and there are over 250 groups in the UK.
4N Gatwick-Crawley meet on alternate Fridays, 8-10am, at Brewers Fayre Goffs Park, Crawley, 45 Goffs Park Road, Crawley
3. Crawley & Gatwick Chamber of Commerce
Crawley & Gatwick Chamber of Commerce is a vibrant and active organisation for local businesses and the surrounding community. They hold a monthly breakfast networking meeting from 8-10am.
4. Business Magnets
Business Magnets is a Business Networking Group that meets fortnightly on Tuesdays, from 8am-10am, at the Café in the Park, Maidenbower Park Community Club, Maidenbower, Crawley.
5. Trusted Referrals Group
Trusted Referrals is a group of business professionals who meet every Thursday 6:30am for breakfast and to discuss business, and to pass referrals. They meet at Holiday Inn Gatwick at Worth, Crabbets Park, Turners Hill Road, Worth.
6. Purple Networking
Purple Networking is a free and informal networking group that meets at the Xenia Latin Lounge, Crawley Leisure Park. No prior booking required.
7. Gatwick Diamond Business
Gatwick Diamond Business is a financially and politically-independent body, owned and run by its members, for its members. They hold a range of regular networking events in and around the Crawley area.
Shared Office Spaces
If you are running your business from home, it can be hugely beneficial to have the option of working in a business environment, without the commitment of renting a permanent office space.
Freedom Works in Manor Royal, Crawley and CoTribe in Horley are coworking spaces that offer freelancers, consultants, home-based employees, or indeed anyone looking to work in an environment of support, creativity and freedom, the opportunity to share a space with like-minded people without having to commit to a long and expensive contract.
Business Services
When you are looking for business services, whether it is a printing company, graphic designer, accountant, bookkeeper, or any other type of local business, we appreciate that it can be difficult to make a choice when you don't know the company personally.
It always feels safer if you deal with someone that you have been recommended, so if you are looking for any business service in the Crawley area and don't know where to start, we will be very happy to help. Just contact us and we will put you in touch with one of our trusted contacts.
And if you think your business would benefit from a new website and you don't know where to start, why not get in touch with the team at it’seeze Web Design Horsham today.
We offer affordable web design services that are ideal for local businesses, and we provide ongoing website support for all our clients too. If you're looking for a reliable Sussex web design company, we'd love to hear from you.
Tagged as: Online Marketing
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