The Arts Council England is the national development agency for the arts in England, responsible for distributing public money from the the UK government and National Lottery. The agency plans to invest £1.7bn in the arts over the next three years.

The Association of Colleges provides training, support, and advice to over 300 colleges in the UK. The AoC recently released a paper on LSC funding plans for the next two years, analysing the budget details and the implications of the planned changes.

The Black Training and Enterprise Group is a national organisation that works to improve employment, economic regeneration, education and enterprise opportunities for people of African, Caribbean, South Asian and South East Asian origin.

The British Chambers of Commerce is a non-political, non profit making organisation, owned and directed by members. The organisation runs a nation wide network and is the largest provider of government funded training.

Business in the Community is made up of 700 companies in the UK, and another 1,600 companies participating in its programmes and campaigns. The group runs a network of local and international partners to help businesses benefit society.

Businessdynamics is is a business education and enterprise charity that connects young people with the business world. Volunteers introduce teenagers to the opportunities and challenges of business as well as provide them with skills to prepare for working life.

The Confederation of Business Industries is a lobbying organisation for UK business on national and international issues. It works with the UK government, international legislators and policy-makers to help UK businesses compete effectively.


The Federation of Small Businesses represents small and medium sized businesses in the UK. The organisation works to promote and protect the interests of the self-employed and owners of small firms.

The Institute of Directors is made up of a worldwide network of members that span a wide spectrum of business leaders, from large public companies to small private firms. It provides members with information, advice, training, conferences and publications for their business needs.

The Learning and Skills Council is plans and funds vocational education and training for people 16-years old and above. It works with the Employment Service, the SBS, Connexions, the National Training Organisations, further education colleges, and community groups.

The National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship was formed in 2004 to raise the profile of entrepreneurship and offer graduates and students the option of starting their own business as a career choice.

The Network of Teaching Entrepreneurship aims to empower young people, in and out of the school environment, by teaching them the basics of starting and running their own businesses.

Prowess is a network of organisations and people who support the growth of business ownership amongst women, be developing women-friendly business support infrastructure and enterprise culture.

Scottish Executive is the devolved government for Scotland. Established in 1999, it is a coalition between the Scottish Labour Party and the Scottish Liberal Democrat Party.

Shell LiveWIRE is one of Shell’s UK community development programmes. It provides information, advice and practical support for young people aged 16 to 30 years old starting up their own business.

The Small Business Service is an agency of the Department of Trade and Industry that provides the government with advice on the concerns of small businesses.

The Social Enterprise Coalition is the UK’s national body for social enterprise. It provides a platform for to showcase the benefits of social enterprise and share information on best practice and influence policy to encourage businesses.

The South East England Development Agency, as the regional development agency for the South East, is responsible for the sustainable economic development and regeneration in the South East of England.

The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust is the national body for secondary education in England. The trust is partially funded by the DfES, delivering the Government’s Specialist Schools and Academies programme.

The National Education Business Partnership Network is an umbrella organisation and representative for 126 business partners in the education sector. Its work involves supporting businesses through its programmes to prepare young people for the working world.

The National Federation of Enterprise Agencies is a group of independent, not for profit, local enterprise agencies and organisations that cater to the needs of small and growing businesses with a range of services.

The Prince’s Trust is a UK charity that provides young people with training, mentoring and financial support. The group works with people who have struggled at school, been in care, been in trouble with the law, or are unemployed.

UnLtd is a charity which supports social entrepreneurs - people who have the ideas and the commitment to make a difference in their communities. The charity offers funding and support package, to help individuals start up and run projects that deliver social benefit.

Young Enterprise is a UK charity that runs a range of business and enterprise education programmes for young people, through the support of businesses and volunteers.