Free courses to help you start and grow your business

That's why Start Up Loans has teamed up with The Open University to provide access to a range of free courses designed to help new and aspiring business owners build the skills they need.

Whether you're still considering your business idea or you've already started trading, these courses can help you develop practical knowledge and feel more confident about running your business.

The courses cover practical areas including:

• Digital skills
• Bookkeeping and accounting
• Running a business
• Growing your business
• Climate and sustainability
• Mental health and wellbeing
• Trauma and grief

Whether you're still considering your business idea or you've already started trading, the courses give you an opportunity to build your knowledge and develop skills that can help you run your business with greater confidence.

The free courses cover a range of subjects designed to help you understand the key aspects of starting and running a business.

Digital skills are increasingly important for businesses of all sizes. The courses can help you develop your understanding of digital tools and how they can support the way you work and communicate with customers.

Understanding your finances is an important part of running a business.

The courses can help you develop your knowledge of bookkeeping and accounting, giving you a better understanding of the numbers behind your business and the information you need to keep track of your finances.

Starting a business is only the beginning. Once you're trading, you'll need to make decisions about how to manage your business and where you want to take it next.

The courses cover business essentials that can help you understand more about the day-to-day running of your business, as well as the challenges and opportunities that come with growing your venture.

Sustainability is becoming increasingly important for businesses and their customers.

There are also courses covering climate and sustainability, helping business owners understand more about these issues and how they could affect their businesses.

Running a business can be rewarding, but it can also be demanding.

The range of courses includes resources focused on mental health and wellbeing, giving business owners the opportunity to develop their understanding of these important issues.

There are also courses covering trauma and grief, providing additional learning and support around subjects that can affect people both personally and professionally.

You don't need to have an established business to benefit from these resources.

They can be useful if you are:

• Thinking about starting a business
• Developing a business idea
• Preparing to become your own boss
• Running a new business
• Looking to improve your business skills
• Planning how to grow your business

You can use the courses to fill gaps in your knowledge, explore subjects that are new to you or simply build your confidence as a business owner.

Starting a business can feel like a big step, particularly when you're responsible for making decisions about areas you haven't dealt with before.

You don't need to know everything on day one.

Building your knowledge before you start trading can help you understand what running a business involves and identify areas where you might need additional support.

Free resources like these can be a useful place to start.

Learning can help you prepare for running a business, but sometimes you also need finance to turn your plans into reality.

BEF is a Business Support Partner for Start Up Loans programme, providing government-backed finance and support to eligible businesses that have traded for up to 60 months.

A Start Up Loan can provide:

• £500 to £25,000 in finance
• A fixed interest rate of 7.5% per annum
• Funding for businesses that have traded for up to 36 months
• The opportunity for up to four founders or partners to apply per business
• No application or set-up fees
• Free post-loan support and mentoring

The finance could help you with eligible business costs, while the mentoring gives you access to additional support as you develop your business.

Starting a business isn't something you have to figure out entirely on your own.

Taking time to develop your skills, understand your finances and learn more about running a business can help you prepare for the challenges ahead.

The free courses from The Open University give you a place to build your knowledge. If you also need finance to start or grow your business, a Start Up Loan could provide the funding and support you need to take the next step.