Below you will find a list of useful websites and organisations:

• Business Lincolnshire

  BusinessLincolnshire provides local business information to help new start up and existing businesses. It provides information to help with starting and growing businesses, finances, employment and skills information, contact details for local suppliers, support schemes and services, news from around the region, as well as a list of the training, seminars, and networking events available locally. This local information is enhanced through case studies, how to guides, tools and videos taken from the national business link website www.businesslink.gov.uk|.

   

  http://www.businesslincolnshire.com/

• UK National Rural Network

  http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/uknationalruralnetwork

• RDPE Network

  Website for the Rural Development Programme for England Network. Includes Leader Local Action Group information and contacts 

  http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/rdpenetwork

• East Midlands Development Agency

  Information on the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) in the East Midlands 

  http://www.emda.org.uk/rdpe/default.asp?nav=08&snav=0802

• Rural Development Agencies in England

  Information on rural development agencies and links to all the regions

  http://www.englandsrdas.com

• Department for business enterprise and regulatory reform

  Department for business enterprise and regulatory reform -information for businesses and guidance on RDPE and Leader.

  http://www.berr.gov.uk

• Defra -RDPE

  Department for environment, food and rural affairs. Main source of information for the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE)

  http://www.defra.gov.uk/rural/rdpe/index.htm

• Lincolnshire County Council

  http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/

• East Lindsey District Council

  http://www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/

• Visit Britain Quality Assurance

  http://www.enjoyengland.com/stay/quality-ratings/

• East Midlands Development Agency (emda) RDPE

  This is the main website for the Rural Development Programme for England in the East Midlands.  The East Midlands Development Agency is responsible for delivering the LEADER approach element of RDPE as well as the main programme dealing with improved competitiveness of the agricultural and forestry sector.

  http://www.emda.org.uk/rdpe/newleader.asp?nav=08&snav=0802

• LEADER areas in England

  LEADER' is a European Union initiative for assisting rural communities to improve the quality of life and economic prosperity in their local area. It was introduced as a 'Community initiative' financed under the EU Structural Funds.  LEADER is now part of the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE), which is administered by the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), In the regions, the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) have the responsibility for delivering the RDPE, and therefore the LEADER initiative. 

  http://www.defra.gov.uk/rural/rdpe/leader.htm

• Green Tourism Business Scheme

  http://www.green-business.co.uk/

• BREEAM - Ecohomes

  http://www.breeam.org/index.jsp

• Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Scheme (VAQAS)

  http://www.tourismtrade.org.uk/quality/assessmentstandards/VAQAS/default.asp

• Defra RDPE

  http://www.defra.gov.uk/rural/rdpe/index.htm

• Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service

  http://www.lincswolds.org.uk/

• Coastal Communities

  http://www.coastalcommunities.co.uk/projects/coastal-rdpe-funding-10.htm

• Lindsey Action Zone

  Website for the Lindsey Action Zone (RDPE Leader funding)

  www.lindseyactionzone.co.uk

• Community Council for Lincolnshire

  Source of information, help and grants - Villages and communities

  http://www.communitylincs.com/

• GRANTnet

  A FREE online funding search tool for businesses and community groups
  www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/grantnet

• Business Link

  Main source of information for businesses. Help and advice together with a range of grants for businesses. 

  www.businesslink.gov.uk

• Small Business Advisory Service

  Another source of help and information for businesses

  http://www.sbas.org.uk/

• Wash Fens Rural Partnership

  The Wash Fens area Local Action Group

  www.washfens-rdpe.co.uk

• East Midlands Art in Rural Areas Network

  http://emaran.org/

• SUSTAIN Lincolnshire

   

  SUSTAIN Lincolnshire, led by Lincolnshire County Council, aims to help Lincolnshire's business to become more competitive at the same time as reducing their carbon footprints and safeguarding the environment. It recognises the major business opportunities that climate change presents and supports the emerging green sector.

  The programme runs from 1st January 2010 until 31st December 2012 and promotes resource efficiency in business by:

  • Providing free intensive business advice
  • Supporting the development of sustainable procurements clusters 
  • Promoting business to business collaboration
  • Providing investment in training and the training infrastructure 
  • Helping to bring new resource efficiency products and services to the market 

  FREE business support is now available through SUSTAIN Lincolnshire. If you’d like to find out about our FREE support service which could help you to identify and generate substantial savings call PECT now to arrange an appointment on 01733 568408.

  http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/business/lcc-services-for-business/economic-regeneration/support-to-business-and-commerce/sustain-lincolnshire/85516.article