Business Advice - Helpful Contacts

On this page you will find a list of helpful business contacts. Click on the type of organisation you require for full details. For North Somerset Council Trading Standards' contacts, please go to our About Us page.

• Business Link
• Enforcement agencies
• Government departments
• Regulators
• Neighbouring Trading Standards Departments
• Other organisations

Business Link

Web Site: www.businesslink.gov.uk

Businesslink.org is the website of Business Link, the national business advice service. Use this site to get straightforward information for your business needs and to access a wide network of business support organisations.

To speak to Business Link, call 0845 600 9006.

Enforcement agencies

Environmental Health & Licensing are available on the main North Somerset Council website

Avon & Somerset Constabulary

HM Revenue & Customs

Avon Fire & Rescue Enforcement of petroleum legislation moved from Avon Fire & Rescue to the Trading Standards Service on 1/1/2008)

The Health & Safety Executive (FSA)

Government departments

Direct Gov The government website offering latest news and links to all government departments.

Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR)

Food Standards Agency (FSA)

Defra Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.

Driver & Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA)

Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) (Formerly HMSO) The site for obtaining copies of all Acts of Parliament from 1988 onwards and subsidiary legislation from 1987 onwards.

Regulators

OFWAT The Regulatory body for the Water Industry

OFGEM The Gas and Electricity industries regulator

OFCOM The UK Regulator for the Telecommunications Industry

Phonepay Plus The independent organisation for the supervision of standards of telephone information services - The Industry funded regulatory body for all premium rate charged telecommunications services

Information Commissioner The Data Protection Commissioner - responsible for data protection and freedom of information

Advertising Standards Authority The ASA is the independent, self-regulatory body for non-broadcast advertisements

Security Industry Authority The authority responsible for certain aspects of the security industry including the licensing of wheel clampers

The Gambling Commision The regulatory body for casino's, bingo clubs, gaming machines and the larger society and all local authority lotteries in Great Britain

Neighbouring Trading Standards Departments

Bath & North East Somerset
Trading Standards Service
9-10 Bath Street
Bath
BA1 1SN
Tel (01225) 396753
Fax (01225) 396142

Bristol
Trading Standards Service
Brunel House
St Georges Road
Bristol
BS1 5UY
Tel (0117) 922 3444
Fax (0117) 922 3803

Somerset County
Trading Standards Service
County Hall
Taunton
TA1 4DY
Tel (01823) 581993
Fax (01823) 356119

South Gloucestershire
Trading Standards Service
The Calibration Centre
20 Marsh Common Road
Pilning
Bristol
Tel (01454) 634001
Fax (01454) 632519

Wiltshire
Trading Standards Service
County Hall
Trowbridge
Wiltshire
BA14 8JD
Tel (01225) 713557
Fax (01225) 713987

Other organisations

British Chambers of Commerce

Business West A useful site for small businesses.

INCPEN
An independant body which assesses and analyses the role of packaging in modern consumer society and its impact on the environment. INCPEN works with regulators to ensure that policy on packaging is effective and environmentally sustainable. It also encourages environmental best practise in packaging systems, informs the public and opinion formers about the contribution that packaging makes to sustainable development.

Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA)

Intellectual Property Office (Patents office)

North Somerset Council, Trading Standards Service, Somerset House, Oxford Street, Weston super Mare, Somerset, BS23 1TG
Telephone: 01275 884118    Fax: 01275 888683
Electronic Mail: trading.standards@n-somerset.gov.uk