In the UK, more people are opting to work for themselves. They find that being self-employed is often a better fit for their lives.

This is especially the case for women who have young children, or who are responsible for looking after other relatives. Given this fact, we felt a few articles about running a small business would be very helpful.

On this occasion, we are going to look at some free places to get advice and support.

Networking groups

Finding people who have successfully set up and run their own business, and getting advice from them is a sure fired way for you to succeed.  Perhaps the best and easiest to access sources of invaluable advice are professional business groups.

On this site, we have featured numerous local business clubs that offer invaluable advice and support. Many of these groups are targeted specifically at women. They offer practical advice on managing the demands of family and business and tackling the other issues that many women experience while running a company.

There are also online groups that you can join. Becoming a member of your local Chamber of Commerce or Round Table is another good way to connect with other entrepreneurs.

Help to study business

Many successful entrepreneurs want to help others to do well in business. Some of them are even willing to pay your tuition fees, should you decide that formal studying is the best way for you to learn the skills you need.

A great example of such a person is Reuben Singh. He is perhaps best known for being confirmed by The Guinness Book of Records as the UK’s youngest self-made millionaire. Mr Singh particularly wants to help those population groups who are underrepresented in the business community.

In the UK, women are 6.3 times less likely to be involved in a business start-up than men are. People from black and minority ethnic backgrounds are also underrepresented. They make up around 14% of the UK population, yet are only involved in 8% of start-ups.

Mr Singh is helping by offering scholarships to entrepreneurs. He wants them to be able to study while continuing to build their businesses. To find out more, have a look at this Reuben Singh article.

Take advantage of government schemes

The UK government is keen for more women to run their own businesses. By doing so, they can contribute to the economy more. So more women running companies is beneficial for society, as well as for them.

The gov.uk site is a good place to go to find out about the latest training and sources of free advice. Visiting this website is also an easy way to find government grants that you may qualify for.

In certain parts of the country, you may also be able to access financial help at a regional level. These grants are an invaluable source of the finance. They provide the cash you need to get your business up and running.