Financial services

Business Debtline: A free, confidential and independent source of advice for the self-employed and small business. The helpline is staffed Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm A 24 hour answering service operates outside these hours and when lines are busy. Contact: 0800 1976026 or visit BDL

Enterprise Investment Scheme: This scheme helps small, unquoted trading businesses raise equity finance and encourages 'business angels' to invest in those businesses. Contact: 029 2032 7400 or visit Enterprise Investment Scheme

European Union Funding: There are opportunities for UK organisations to seek EU funding for innovative development and application projects in the life sciences, information society technologies, food safety and quality and sustainable development. The current funding programme is called 'Framework Programme 6' (FP6) and has a budget of19 billion over the period 2002/06. Contact: 0870 600 6080 or visit EC Europa EU

Assistance for businesses in Surrey: Please contact Business Link Surrey on 0845 600 9006 or visit Business Link Surrey

Small Firms Loan Guarantee Fund: The Small Business Service (SBS) guarantees loans from banks and other financial institutions for small firms that have viable business proposals, but who have tried and failed to get a conventional loan because of lack of security. The SBS guarantees 75% of loans up to 100,000 (250,000 for firms trading for more than two years). For more details, visit the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Fund website.