Useful links

Here you can find links to useful information on the web that you can use for your own business purposes. Useful links by business area include:

Employment and HR

Acas - Acas (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) aim to improve organisations and working life through better employment relations.

BIS - BIS (Department for Business Innovation and Skills), formerly BERR

Tribunals Service - Information on unfair dismissal,discrimination, wages, redundancy and other payments.

Employing older workers - Information on age legislation and best practice in valuing age in the workplace.

Criminal Records Bureau - Helps organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors to identify candidates who may be unsuitable to work with children and vulnerable people.

Department of Work and Pensions - Provides information on employment and retirement.

Department for Children, Schools and Families - Provides information on education and children's services.

Employers' Forum on Disability - Enables companies to become disability confident by making it easier to recruit and retain disabled employees and serve disabled customers.

Equality and Human Rights Commission - Working to eliminate discrimination, reduce inequality, protect human rights and to build good relations.

The Pension Service - Provides information about pensions and pensioner benefits, for those planning for the future, about to retire or already retired.

Health and safety

Health and Safety Executive - Information on how to protect people against risks to health or safety arising out of work activities.

Health for Work Adviceline for Small Business - This free advice line can help you to quickly and effectively address the issue of employee health, minimise the impact of staff illness, and provide essential support to staff with physical or mental health issues. The Adviceline can also be contacted on 0800 077 8844.

Money matters

Companies House - The official UK Government register of UK companies.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) - Includes information about the UK's customs and tax department.

HM Treasury - The UK's economics and finance ministry, responsible for implementing the Government's financial and economic policy.

The Bank of England - The central bank of the United Kingdom. Their website contains information on inflation and the financial system.

The Pension Service - Provides information about pensions and pensioner benefits, for those planning for the future, about to retire or already retired.

APACS: Retailers and Cards - Provides general help and guidance for both new and existing merchants on accepting cards for their businesses.

Technology

Microsoft Small Business Centre - IT information for start-ups and how to grow your business using IT.

eTips - Free tips and time-saving techniques to increase your productivity and expertise with computer software.

Find your local telephone/broadband exchange - Allows you to check broadband in your area.

Microsoft Update - Update your copy of Microsoft Windows with the latest bug fixes.

Internet Explorer - Download or upgrade to the latest version of Internet Explorer browser to view web pages.

Open Office - Free, open-source office applications including word processing, spreadsheet and database software.

Business IT Guide - Guides and tips on IT issues relating to small businesses.

Green issues

NetRegs - Provides free environmental guidance for small and medium-sized businesses in the UK. We will help you to understand what you need to do to comply with environmental law and protect the environment.

Green Grants Machine - A comprehensive source of information on grants, loans and awards available to help your business go green and save on energy bills.

Green Buying - Online source of green business supplies and advice on how your business can reduce its environmental impact and carbon footprint whilst saving money.

Carbon Trust - The Carbon Trust works with organisations to reduce carbon emissions and develop commercial low carbon technologies.

Energy Saving Trust - A non-profit organisation that provides free impartial advice that can help you save money and tackle climate change by reducing carbon dioxide emissions from your home.

Envirowise - Envirowise delivers free, independent advice to UK businesses, enabling companies to increase profitability and reduce environmental impact.

The FPB is not responsible for the content of any third party websites.