Business reference and research help
British Standards Online
Available from public computers in all our libraries. British Standards Online provides free access to the full-text of almost all British Standards as well as their European and International equivalents. Please ask a member of staff for access.
Contact Ask a Kent Librarian for more information.
COBRA
The Complete Online Business Reference Advisor (COBRA) is an encyclopaedia of practical information for anyone involved in setting up, running or managing a business enterprise.
As a Kent library card holder, you can download or print documents for your own personal use, to help research, start up or run a business. No part of the product can be transmitted, promoted, referred to or linked to by any other means, including by email or on the internet, without written permission from COBRA. Remote access is restricted to 12 Business Information Briefings, 12 Business Opportunities Profiles, and 6 UK Market Synopsis a year. You can access the COBRA website in any Kent library or at home.
Fame
Fame can be used to
- search for company reports
- contact, financial, credit and ownership details for all registered UK companies
- download market intelligence reports
- extract mailing lists tailored to your requirements.
Due to licensing restrictions, we will need to access this database on your behalf.
Contact Ask a Kent Librarian for more information.
GRANTfinder
GRANTfinder allows you to search for all types funding including loans, awards and grants to help local companies succeed and grow. Local entrepreneurs can search independently through the thousands of funds available to them. These include European Union and government programmes, regional schemes, local authority funds, and prestigious business award competitions.
GRANTfinder is available via public computers at the Kent History and Library Centre in Maidstone, or contact Ask a Kent Librarian for more information.
IBISWorld
Provides industry market research and risk ratings on hundreds of the industries in the UK, including statistics, analysis, risk scores and revenue forecasts
IBISWorld is available via public computers at the Kent History and Library Centre in Maidstone, or contact Ask a Kent Librarian for more information.
Free websites
Getting your business online
Nominet has produced two free guides to help explain why your business needs to be online, and how to go about getting your business online. You can find out more information and download both guides from the following links:
Approved Documents
The most recent versions of the Approved Documents that support the technical "Parts" of the Building Regulations together with Regulation 7 are accessible from the Planning Portal website.
Visit the Planning Portal website.
Companies House
Companies House incorporates and dissolves limited companies, registers the information companies are legally required to supply, and makes that information available to the public.
Visit the Companies House website.
IP Equip
Learn how to protect your intellectual property rights by using the IP Equip interactive eLearning tool. This free online training will teach you about intellectual property rights such as trademarks, patents, copyright and designs.
Sources of Funding
Find out about available business loans and funding to help start or expand your business in Kent.
You can also find useful information from these organisations: