Contact

Economic Affairs Team
Rochdale Borough Council
Floor 4 Municipal Offices
Smith Street
Rochdale OL16 1LQ

Tel: 01706 926642
Email: info@rochdale.gov.uk
Business Link North West
Tel: 0845 00 66 888
Web: Business Link
Rochdale Development Agency
Lock 50 Business Centre
Oldham Road
Rochdale OL16 5RD
Tel: 01706 868999

External links

Business advice

If your answer is yes to any of the following, then these pages provide further information on the range of business support services available to you:

  • Businses Advisor providing start-up advice to a female entrepreneur.Have you ever thought of running your own business?
  • Do you have an idea that you want to get off the ground?
  • Are you a new business in need of specialist support and advice in order to keep your business afloat?
  • Looking to relocate, expand or diversify?
  • Need to inject some cash into your business? 
  • Simply want to learn more about being in business?

Business Link North West

If you’re already running your own business, just starting out, or have a great business idea, Business Link Northwest can help.

Offering a free-to-use, impartial business support and information service you can access all the practical assistance and information you need to give your business the best chance of success.

Business Link North West offer support on a wide range of issues like:

  • Planning, starting and expanding your business
  • Managing and employing people
  • Business finance and taxation
  • Making the most of IT and e-commerce
  • Winning new customers
  • Sales and marketing

If you want to find out more why not get in touch?

The Business Link North West website is bursting at the seams with information and access to over 500 free guides on a range of topics.

Alternatively speak to a member of their business information and enquiry team… which is available morning, noon and night to take your calls and emails from 8am-8pm Monday to Friday, as well as from 8am to 2pm at weekends and bank holidays.

Get in touch on 0845 00 66 888 or visit the website:

Business Link North West - providing support for local business.

Support for female entrepreneurs

If you are a female entrepreneur and are seeking advice on any aspect of your business, support is available from the Women's Enterprise Initiative.

The Women's Enterprise Initiative can help any women in the Rochdale Borough who would would like to find out more information about starting a business, putting a business idea into practice, or support with a present business.

For further information, contact the Women's Enterprise Initiative on 01706 646471 or visit the website:

Women's Enterprise Inititative - helping women in business.

The Rochdale Borough Womens Enterprise Network is run by female entrepreneurs from all over the Borough of Rochdale. Their aims are:

  • To provide networking opportunities for women entrepreneurs
  • To provide motivational support structures and activities for members
  • To provide signposting to support services for female entrepreneurs
  • To raise the profile and awareness of women’s entrepreneurship in Rochdale Borough and in general.

For more information contact the network on 01706 646471 or visit the website:

Rochdale Borough Womens Enterprise Network - website.

Support for Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) entrepreneurs

EMBS Rochdale (Ethnic Minority Business Support) provide specialist advice on a whole range of business needs and issues. EMBS aim is to assist those individuals looking to explore self employment/business opportunities by supplying them with business advice, training, guidance, access to mainstream finances and to maximise existing business's performance.

EMBS are able to address the needs of the emerging businesses, help businesses establish themselves and contribute to the local economy.

If you would like to find out how EMBS Rochdale can help you, get in touch by contacting them on tel: 01706 630140 or visit their website for further information:

EMBS Rochdale - website.

Help for social enterprises

Social enterprises are different to ordinary businesses as they operate for a social or community purpose, rather than the need to make a profit. Any profits generated are re-invested into the business to achieve its social or community objectives.

The needs of social enterprises are also very different from normal businesses, and they often require in-depth support and pump-priming funds at the start-up stage in order to survive and become sustainable. 

If you are considering setting up a social enterprise, or are an existing social enterprise in need of help and support, RoFTRA have a decidacted Social Enterprise Advisor who can assist you. For more information contact Andy Jessop at RoFTRA on tel: 01706 764808 for further information.

RoFTRA - Rochdale Federation of Residents and Tenants Association.

Third Sector Enterprises (3SE) also provide consultantcy, strategy and support for social enterprises within Greater Manchester. For more information contact 3SE by phone on tel: 0161 237444 or visit their website:

Third Sector Enterprises - website.

Help for the manufacturing sector

The Manufacturing Institute are delivering the Greater Manchester Productivity Programme which provides free practical hands-on support to help improve the performance of manufacturing companies based within the local area. If you are a manufacturing firm and would like to find out more information about the programme, contact the Manufacturing Institute direct on tel: 07795 6052451 or visit their website for further details:

Manufacturing Institute - website.

Creative industries support

The Creative Industries Development Service (CIDS) works to help new and established creative businesses in Greater Manchester, whilst also taking a strategic overview of the sector – developing projects in response to industry needs.

CIDS offer a free Information Service for creative business to help them find out what support is available. If you would like to access this service, contact CIDS on 0800 169 1143 or visit their website:

CIDS - website.

Relocating to Rochdale from outside the area

If you are interested in relocating to Rochdale from outside the area your first point of contact is the Investment Team at the Rochdale Development Agency. They provide a one-stop-shop service for potential inward investors that can include help with identifying property, recruitment and training of new staff and business support. Contact the Investment Team on tel: 01706 868999.

 

Rochdale Development Agency - website.

Support for environmental and technologies sector

Envirolink Northwest is a not for profit organisation, funded by the Northwest Regional Development Agency and the region’s local authorities to increase the profitability and competitiveness of the environmental goods and services sector, throughout the North West region. 

Envirolink Northwest’s Recycling and Waste team offers a comprehensive service to the sector, from the development of technology through R&D; to the demonstration and commercialisation of technology; to promotion of the sector; to supporting the development of recycled products and importantly ensuring that there are end markets, such as through the Buy Recycled Code.

Services available to recycling and waste businesses include:

  • Networking events and conferences
  • Market information
  • Business directories
  • Capital and revenue grants
  • One-to-one bespoke support, regardless of company size
  • Buy Recycled Code – free membership service providing access to recycled products at a reduced rate.

To find out more about Envirolink Northwest’s services visit their website:

Envirolink Northwest - website.

For more information on any of the above services you can also contact the Economic Affairs Team using the contact details on the top right hand panel, who will be happy to provide assistance.