Welcome to your Lancashire

Online Reference Library (OnRL)

Our Online Reference Library is a selection of 100s of websites chosen, organised and maintained by library professionals to answer your questions. Resources marked with * can only be accessed within a Lancashire Library.

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Your search for Business and Finance produced 114 results:

See a list of subcategories for Business and Finance

 

Ask About Business is a partnership between Lancashire Libraries and other authorities across the North West. Ask About Business provides information through libraries to support: Pre-start and new businesses, Existing businesses, Jobseekers, Consumers, Inventors and Business students. Need help? Live chat is now available on this site Monday 9:30am - 12pm and Thursday 1:30pm - 4pm (and at other times you can email). AAB also includes free access for library members to Cobra Business Adviser
The authoritative site for all BSI publications. Updated daily, it includes over 38,500 current, draft and historic British Standards, more than 16,000 of which are BSI-adopted European and International standards. Access is possible at any Lancashire Library People's Network PC using your Library login. You may request up to a maximum of 10% of any standard to be printed by library staff for personal, non-commercial use.
The authoritative site for all BSI publications. Updated daily, it includes over 38,500 current, draft and historic British Standards, more than 16,000 of which are BSI-adopted European and International standards. You can view the standards from any PC using the barcode from your Lancashire Library card to login. Printed selections for personal, non-commercial use (up to 10%) are available in Libraries only, ask a member of staff.
Part of our Ask About Business support for businesses, jobseekers & consumers in Lancashire. If you're running a business or planning a start up, COBRA provides practical and continually updated information to help with start-up opportunities, employment, legal, finance, marketing, exporting, health & safety, as well as many useful links in the Local Area Profile. You'll just need your Library card number to log in.
This subscription site from Companies House can provide facsimile copies of documents on limited companies. Although this site is not available for public use, library staff may access information on your behalf. However, charges do apply if you require copies of any documents. For more information, contact your local library.
The web site of Kompass, the company that provides commercial information. Search a global database of 2.2 million industrial and commercial companies in 70 countries. Search by product, trade name, executive names, location and turnover. Access is possible at any Lancashire Library People's Network PC.
The web site of Kompass, the company that provides commercial information. Search a global database of 2.2 million industrial and commercial companies in 70 countries. Search by product, trade name, executive names, location and turnover. This is a service that Lancashire Library subscribe to and access is possible outside libraries by using this link and the inputting the barcode from your Lancashire Library card.
This section of Oxford Reference Online includes works on economics, business, human resources and banking. Access is possible at any Lancashire Library People's Network PC or from any PC using the barcode from your Lancashire Library card.
The association is a federation of 31 trade bodies representing the advertising and promotional marketing industries. Their web site includes an information centre, details of publications and an events diary for the industry.
Arts and Business is a not-for-profit organisation that helps its members in both business and the arts to develop more effective ways of working together. "Our vision is to help build communities by developing creative partnerships between business and the arts".
The Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) is an established and well-respected professional membership body. This site includes free access to questions and answers from past AAT exam papers and access to a "Find an Accountant" directory.
The website of LAPADA lists member firms of the organisation and details of antiques fairs organised by itself and other bodies. There is also useful information on caring for antiques
This site provides advice on choosing an accountant as well as allowing you to find an accountant in your area.
This web site holds a database with the contact details of over 800 professional firms and is searchable by town, region and engineering discipline (Use the "find a consultant" link).
The web site of The British Antique Furniture Restorers' Association . There is an option to "Find a Restorer" on the home page.
A web site run by Beatthatquote.com Ltd, a company registered in 2005. It provides comparative information on a range of personal finance products and utility services in order to provide the consumer with an informed choice. In most cases you will have to submit personal information to get a quote for a product.
A web site from the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, which aims to provide help for small businesses on improving business performance, legislation, environmental matters, European issues etc.
BigCharts is an easy-to-use investment research Web site, providing access to professional-level research tools such as interactive charts, quotes, industry analysis and intraday stock screeners, as well as market news and commentary. It provides a visual overview of any publicaly listed company and any US stock exchange.
A free online service for students, teachers and lecturers of business, economics, accounting, leisure and recreation and travel and tourism.It is a JISC (Joint Information Systems Committee) service and is aimed at the post-16 sector.
The Bloomberg website provides international financial data on companies, markets, currencies etc.
An Online Directory from the publishers of the trade magazine the Brewers' Guardian. It's an a-z listing by category of suppliers to the brewing industry.
The web site of the British Chambers of Commerce provides links to web sites of all the local accredited chambers, some of which have online directories of businesses in their respective areas.
This site includes a useful directory of members for finding businesses in the equestrian trade. Members of the BETA can gain access to the members' area.
The website of the association contains a searchable directory to the freight industry in the UK. It can be searched by service and regions of operations
This web site gives details of the British Library's holdings on patents etc. as well as information and advice and links to other useful web sites
The British Library's business and intellectual property centre can provide help with business networking and planning, protecting your ideas and researching markets. This site includes free courses, guides and downloads.
A website from Harque Directories which provides company information on the music, television and film industries. Use the tabs on the left-hand side to search by an a-z list of company names, key word or industry category.
British Services aims to be a comprehensive resource for those seeking the governing bodies, government departments, associations, organisations and resources for over 100 industries in the UK. British Services also offers a database of the non-profit organisations, charities, groups, clubs and businesses in each industry we cover. Searches can be narrowed by county, city or town.
This site provides information on suppliers of building products and materials. It is free to use but registration is required for use of the enhanced features such as ordering company literature.
The website of the association provides details of current members, fact sheets, consumer advice etc. There is also a link to help you find information on Building Societies that no longer exist .
This British Library wiki is a one-stop shop listings site of essential websites for small businesses and entrepreneurs.
This government sponsored site provides local business support programmes, initiatives and financial support. You can also find out about local workshops, seminars, networking opportunities. The regional Business Link advisory service will close by November 2011.
Business Planet maps flagship online databases of the World Bank Group that support private sector-led growth and financial market development in developing countries. It is an entry point to powerful data sources such as Doing Business, Enterprise Surveys, Privatization Database and Private Investment in Infrastructure Projects. An interactive map, powered by Google Maps.
Online Business to Business Directory - free to access, and contains over 110,000 businesses who have included their details in over 45,000 product and service areas. Searchable by company, product, town or postcode.
Choose.net offers a guide to choosing and using the right credit card for your needs and includes guides, FAQs, product comparison tables and independent reviews.
This directory from the association includes databases to help you find suppliers and manufacturers and association members.
This page from the Companies House website provides links to the websites of organisations that maintain company registries for countries all over the world.
Like other price comparison sites, Compare For Good finds you the best deals on money and insurance products. But, unlike other sites, over two thirds of the money they make goes straight to Oxfam, at no cost to you.
The Advice section of Consumer and Legal also lists a number of sources of assistance with personal financial problems.
A free online version of this guide for the creative industries. It includes details of and links to enterprises in the fields of design, photography, illustration etc. Details of picture libraries are also included.
A directory of design consultants which focuses mainly on the UK but does include some international companies. Searchable by consultant's name, location or design skill.
The site provides information on the services that the chamber can supply to its members along with contact details etc. There is also a directory of members of the chamber.
ITProfessionals.co.uk is an impartial directory of Ecommerce Website companies, providing information on Ecommerce Website companies including consultants and freelancers from across the UK.
Economics is the social science which studies how individuals, firms, governments, and organizations make choices; and how these choices determine the way wealth is produced and distributed. This site provides a very comprehensive and up to date Dictionary of Economic Terms, Concepts, Theories and Theorists.
Euromonitor is a noted publisher of business intelligence and market information . Most of the information from the site is charged-for but executive summaries of Market Research Reports can be obtained free.
This site appears to be a useful online directory for these production industries. The search options are limited to categories (e.g. animation, props, screening etc) but it provides full contact details plus web links.
The website of FITA provides useful country profiles and a whole range of links providing information on trade leads (business directories), importing and exporting, geography etc. The "Really Useful Links" section classifies all the links into subject categories.
The Federation's web site provides a range of information on all kinds of issues affecting small businesses plus contact details for regional offices. The "Document Library" (use the "FSB Sites" tab) provides an extensive list of policy documents etc. which can be downloaded free of charge.
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) is an independent non-governmental body, but with statutory powers to regulates the financial services industry in the UK. Their website contains information for consumers and businesses on the industry and their regulatory role.
This web site describes itself as "The leading internet directory for UK financial websites " . It is regulated by the FSA and provides information on the full range of financial products and provides links to the websites of the products listed.
This is a dedicated resource which includes a directory of franchisors seeking franchisee partners along with other advice, services and news.
The web site of Franchise World magazine. It provides advice on buying or setting up a franchise as well as a listing of franchises that are currently looking for franchisees.
This Guide to Free Business Information site has been created by the Association for Information Management. Whilst you will see little information on this homepage, the menu on the left contains links to a vest amount of business information and resources, arranged in categories such as Industry Information, Regional Information and Legal Information.
This free web site is produced by an American Company FreePatentsOnline.Com and was set up by a former patent searcher, James Ryley. It includes details of US and European patents with Japanese ones to follow. To access some of the information (including images) you need to register and submit some details including an e mail address.
Get daily, weekly and monthly share prices from the FTSE 100 Index from 1984 to date.
The free Health for Work Adviceline for Small Business provides expert support to helpsmall businesses to quickly and effectively address the issue of employee health, minimise the impact of staff illness, and provide essential support to staff with physical or mental health issues.
This site provides company information on PLC companies including share prices, directors names, details of shareholders, annual reports etc. Some services are charged for and some of the free services require registration.
A directory to suppliers of stock and equipment in the horticultural trades. It can be searched by various categories including company name, product and geographical location.
The official site for The Insolvency Service. Offices are listed for the Official Receiver, Enforcement Directorate, Banking Section and the Redundancy Payments Offices. Individual Insolvency Register Search contains details of bankruptcies that are current or have ended in the last three months; current and individual voluntary arrangements and current bankruptcy restrictions orders and undertakings.
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales is the largest professional accountancy body in Europe. Use the "Find a Chartered Accountant" tab to find an accountant in your own area.
As well as providing information on management consultancy and job vacancies there is also a register of consultants (use the " find a consultant....." link at the top of the page)
This is the web site of The Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (IPHE) and includes the "Find a Plumber" database which enables you to find a registered plumber in your area.
The web site of the institution provides access to the "findanengineer" database (under "quick links") which contains details of about 260 engineering companies in the UK.
The web site of the Insurance Directory, the well-established directory for the Insurance Industry. You can search by type of insurance product or use the "text search" option to look for a company name. This is a free site but registration is required.
UK Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office. Their web site gives information and advice on Copyright, Designs and Patents. You can also trace details of individual patents, trademarks and designs.
The International Deposit Rates Exchange (IDRE) was formed in 2009. The website showcases and compares the top 10 banking and financial institutions deposit and savings rates for each country. It provides data on various types of deposits by country including but limited to term deposits, fixed deposits, time deposits and certificate of deposit. Data sources are from the websites of the financial institutions themselves.
This web site has an international directory of market research companies and organisations. The Yearbook, which includes this directory, is also downloadable free of charge and there is a database of market research reports which gives brief abstracts and publication details.
The website of the market and public opinion research company (formerly MORI). It includes a Research Archive which gives access to reports and data on a whole range they have researched.
This is the online version of the well-established Kemps International handbook for film, television and commercials production services. It is international in scope and gives contact details, web links etc.
This is the web site of Keynote, the Market Research Company. Access to most of the information requires payment or subscription but the report summaries are free.
An online directory to contacts within the film, TV, video and commercials production industries. It is produced by Hollis, an established publisher of business directories. You need to register to use the site but registration is free.
This website is the Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board's online resource for business advice, the latest industry news, information on skills and training and marketing opportunities for your tourism business.
The web site of the Stock Exchange. The companies and prices section provides company and trading information for securities traded on the Exchange.
This site provides details of market research reports from 350 of the leading publishers worldwide. Basic details of the reports are available and registration allows you to see further details, search within the body of reports and order the reports.
The web site of the market research company Mintel. Most services on this site are only available via subscription/payment although the reports index and brief descriptions of the reports can be accessed free of charge. Recent editions of some reports can be found on the libraries catalogue, Your Catalogue and can reserved in hard copy.
This web site provides analyses of personal finance products. The Account Store facility (which requires registration) also allows you to manage all your online accounts through one log in - look under the "resources" link for details.
This site provides comparative details on a range of financial products such as credit cards, mortgages, savings accounts etc. from different providers. There is also a section where you can make comparisons of flight and hotel costs.
This site includes a database which allows you to find a member of the NAEA in or near any given area in the UK.
There are areas of this site for householders, contractors and specifiers. There is also the option to search for details of an NICEIC approved electrician in your area.
This website includes a national database of markets and information for traders and shoppers.
This is the web site of National Savings and Investments, a government department and executive agency of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. On this site you can check to see if ERNIE has drawn your numbers. The Premium Bonds checker shows prize numbers from the past seven draws and unclaimed prizes from previous draws.
This network, drawn from a wide range of enterprise support organisations, provide independent and impartial advice, training and mentoring to new and emerging businesses.
The site provides information on the services that the chamber can supply to its members along with contact details etc. There is also a directory of members of the chamber which can be found under the "services" button.
Northwest Fantastic Foods Partnership is a group of organisations from across the North West whose role is to assist food producers to develop their businesses and market their products. Their website includes a business directory, links to county information, events listings. Full access requires registration but there is no charge for this.
This web site produce by the National Union of Journalists provides listings of media freelances in the UK and Ireland, covering writers, editors, sub-editors, designers, illustrators, photographers, broadcasters, scriptwriters, web designers etc
This site provides details of companies working in the oil and gas industries. There are currently over 1600 companies on the database.
The GB database is one of a number of databases available through esp@cenet. The Worldwide database has the widest coverage covering publications from 63 countries This database contains GB publications from 1900 onwards.
The UK government's Pension Service aims to give you advice and guidance on state pension benefits. Their website also contains information and leaflets for all those who are retired or planning ahead. This includes information on stakeholder pensions, company pensions, contracted-out pensions etc. There is also a facility to help you trace a lost pension.
TOPAS, the Pensions Advisory Service, is an independent non-profit organisation that provides information and guidance on the whole spectrum of pensions covering State, company, personal and stakeholder schemes.
The Pensions Regulator is the new regulatory body for work-based pension schemes in the UK. It supersedes OPRA (The Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority) and commenced its role in April 2005. It provides information on stakeholder pensions, details of codes of practice etc.
The web site of this professional body also has a directory of member firms in the UK - use the drop down list under PRCA links on the top left of the home page.
A site that provides information on foreign exchange rates, and taxation rates. There is also comparative information on saving and borrowing rates.
A directory produced by the RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects). It provides information on suppliers relevant to the profession and is searchable by various criteria. It provides contact and product details and links to web sites.
A business finder for the UK similar to yellow pages (Yell.com). It is searchable by business name, business type and location.
A national catalogue of company reports in UK libraries (including the British Library). Searchable by company name, industry, country or year. .
This website is produced by Dillistone Systems, a recruitment software supplier to the executive search industry. The "executive search directory" function allows you to search for a company or individual by name, location, industry, job function etc.
The web site of the Commission which also gives access to the EDGAR database. All public companies in the US, are required to file registration statements, periodic reports, and other forms electronically through EDGAR. Access to these documents is free.
A website based on the established industry guide published by Hollis. It only provides full information for the advertisers including e mails and weblinks. For the other companies it provides a phone number only.
This website provides select information on contractors, services and entertainments in the outdoor events industry. The Directory is an established publication in this industry.
This Information Centre has hundreds free guides (the site is supported by advertising) to all aspects of starting, buying and running a small business, all laid out in an easy to read form. However, the site is US orientated so you would need to get additional information regarding UK business law and costs.
Small Business Pro UK offers free (the site is supported by advertising) ideas, help, advice and information on this site to startup as a sole trader or form a limited company.
Start In Business, is a directory of resources to help anyone starting, buying or expanding a business. It includes, under the heading 'Information and Advice', a step by step guide to starting a business.
A site which gives advice for people wanting to start up in business. It includes information on buying and selling businesses, franchising, raising finance, staffing issues etc.
Support for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) offers general advice and information to businesses, and provide help to prospective UK SMEs on setting up a company.
An online version of the Thomson directories covering the whole of the UK.
The web site of the Trade Association Forum includes a link to the TAF directory which allows you to search for trade associations, guilds or federations by industry name or organisation name. There is also a "Supplier Directory" which provides details of companies that provide services to the associations.
British Services is a resource for those seeking the governing bodies, government departments, associations, organisations and resources for over 100 industries in the UK. The associations, including contact details, are listed A-Z and by sector.
The official web site for the UK exhibition industry, sponsored by UK Trade and Investment, the new UK government organisation responsible for all trade promotion and development work.
A useful trade directory for the film and music industries produced by UK Screen Ltd which can be searched according to industry categories. You can also search for artistes under various cataegories as well (dancer, model, presenter, hip-hop, r 'n' b etc.)
This site provides private investors with access to resources to help them gather and evaluate information on stocks and shares on the London Stock Market.
A web site which promotes the benefits of using an Independent Financial Adviser. It also includes a database to help you find an Adviser in your area.
From this US government site searches can be made for US Patents and Trademarks.
This site provides general currency information including currency conversion data.
The web site of Yellow Pages - allows searching for businesses, services, shops etc. in given locations.
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