Everything you need to know about BSO
21-12-2004
Everything you need to know about BSO
The LFF has conducted extensive research to identify Business Support Organisations (BSO) for the clothing and textile sector
Support agencies | Benefits |
British Apparel and Textile Confederation | waiting for confirmation 21.12.2004 |
British Clothing Industry Association | waiting for confirmation 21.12.2004 |
Business Link | – funding and grants – employment and related regulations – starting a business – contacts – conferences and workshops |
British Fashion Council | – the designer manufacturing handbook – the designer fact file |
Business Technology Support Centre | waiting for confirmation 21.12.2004 |
CIDA Cultural Industries Development Agency | – specialist support for development of creative and cultural enterprises in – provide a wide range of essential services to the creative and cultural industries – to promote a culturally diverse and sustainable creative industries sector – to promote access to cultural and creative industries – to sustain and increase economic prosperity through supporting entrepreneurial activities of individuals – to support policy, planning, urban regeneration, creative hubs, clusters and cultural quarter initiatives |
Centre for Fashion | – based at the London College of Fashion – help to improve the success rate of fashion start-ups by reducing the risks in building a new fashion company – provides access to critical resources including funds to develop a collection, PR, marketing and sales support, manufacturing links, strategic advice, business planning, accounting and access to potential investors |
Cutting Edge | waiting for confirmation 21.12.2004 |
Creative | – a showcase for – a directory for small companies active in architecture, advertising, art and antiques, crafts, design, electronic publishing, fashion, film and video, games software, music, publishing, performing arts and TV and radio |
Design Business Association | – trade association for British design – information on how to choose a design consultancy – directory of design companies |
Design Council | – advice on use of design as a central part of your business strategy to increase commercial success and competitiveness – events on how design can boost competitiveness and quality of life |
Design Directory | – information and support for businesses who require design services – database of – advice on choosing the right designer |
Designer Forum Tel: 0115 911 5339 | waiting for confirmation 21.12.2004 |
Ethnic Minorities | – support for ethnic minorities to undertake business development in newly emerging sectors – provide customer-led business management advice targeting specialist sectors such as clothing design and restaurants – pilot initiatives to develop business concepts and marketing plans for implementation by ethnic minority youth and women entrepreneurs – support the development of business networks and associations as the voice of the local business community – develop Town Management initiatives to promote key business districts in Tower Hamlets through festivals, visual merchandising and branding |
Fashion Capital
| website managed by the London Fashion Forum to provide information on: – daily industry news under the newsbite section on the homepage – company finder to find the right supplier – online boutique to sell your collection online – profiles on designers – here you can advertise yourself for free – presszone to advertise your products – events, like the LFF’s Profile Fashion Show and others – trends section for mood boards, colour, fabric, silhouette and trimmings – newswire, a free weekly email directly to you to keep you posted on the latest news – who’s who of the fashion industry – the – chat with likeminded people – diaries for news from the LFF boutiques and more coming soon: – document library to download publications on business support – online museum – fashion through the ages all on page! |
Fashion Works | waiting for confirmation 21.12.2004 |
sister company of the London Fashion Forum – sampling and production support – CAD/CAM training – prestigious showroom facilities – extensive resource library – business skills advice and mentoring – online trend forecasting – marketing and PR support – business seminars | |
| – dedicated and ongoing mentoring by industry professionals – Profile Fashion Show for new and established labels – Necessary Accessory Show for new and established labels, now amalgamated into Profile – boutiques at Kingly Court Carnaby Street and Bluewater for designers to retail their collections – www.fashioncapital.co.uk website – community projects e.g. Karrot and Dulwich Youth Club – Dealing Direct – networking manufacturers to deal directly with retailers – Stepping Up – upgrading CMT units to become manufacturing sources e.g. includes design process and selling/marketing – Delivery Day seminar for students and graduates to have an overview of industry interactions. – Asian Dreams Fashion Show promoting Asian culture – originated by LFF – Creative Skills Studio – a networking event held with The Register of Apparel and Textile Designers – Make It Happen seminar including “Making appointments with buyers†– the next one is held on January 19th 2005 at the London Development Agency, – Newsletter with reports on trade news and all latest developments – LFF website with valuable information and documents to download from the Archives Extra on: – confidentiality agreements – quality control reports – 1st make sample reports – body measurements chart – dockets – specification sheets – – style file progress sheet – order forms |
– the London Fashion Week advisory committee – the international and – the press committee | |
New Media Knowledge | – resources for individuals and companies working in interactive digital media – research and consultancy services for public and private sector clients, offering analysis and market intelligence about – courses to develop professional skills to achieve business goals – events to gather information on how to win more business, how to understand the latest technology trends and how to devise a strategy for success |
Midlands Fashion Showcase Ltd | – network of clothing manufacturers – use of CAD/CAM – have 1st patterns and grades made – have first samples made – national and international information on trends, fabrics, merchandising, funding, sales and marketing, events and fashion shows |
Own it | advice, events and information for – copyright – design rights – patents – trademarks – branding – confidentiality agreements – licensing – royalties – contracts |
Regional Development Agencies or: www.dti.gov.uk/support/textile.htm | – sourcing funding in their local area – co-ordinating inward investment – raising people’s skills – improving competitiveness of business – promoting sustainable and economic development and social and physical regeneration – discretionary grants for projects which will create or safeguard employment (most manufacturing businesses are eligible) – devising strategies to improve regional economic performance |
Portobello Business Centre | – business consultancy – training in business skills including marketing, finance and exporting |
– manufacturing incubator units – trends and forecast publications – business development seminars – workshops and graduate events | |
Scottish | – London Fashion Boutique (through London Fashion Forum) for designers to showcase and retail their collections – HR 4 HIRE – help with recruitment, induction and training – advice and contacts for trade shows and trend forecasts – Textile trend library – WGSN Textile Intelligence resource – trade show support for textile businesses – training in the workplace programme |
Small Business Service | – the small firms loan guarantee scheme – the ethnic minority business forum – the small business research initiative – the phoenix fund – the SBS business incubation fund |
The Prince’s Trust for 18-30 years old unemployed or work less than16 hours a week have a good business idea | – a low interest loan up to £ 4,000 – a grant up to £1,500 in special circumstances – a test marketing grant of up to £250 – ongoing business support and specialist advice – ongoing advice from a volunteer business mentor – patent, copyright and trademark advice – free legal helpline |
The Textiles and Clothing Industry Forum | – supply chain management – support with technical textiles, design and branding – training and development – e-commerce |
Trade Partners | – research international markets – support for exhibitions and seminars abroad – outward missions to promote your business abroad – export promotion advisors |
– independent trade association supported by its members – practical help to British exporters and to overseas buyers, agents and press – export marketing services and information – free sourcing of merchandise from the | |
– computer aided design training, software and equipment – exhibition and display facility |
