Community directory

St Albans Enterprise Agency Ltd

The St Albans Enterprise Agency is an independent organisation formed to provide free assistance to pre-start and start-up businesses and those planning to expand or solve problems in an existing micro enterprise.

STANTA offers free and low cost, informal counselling, advice and information. Its advisors understand the problems and obstacles which can confront businesses. They draw on experience and contacts in the local business community to help ideas to become a reality.

They focus on one-to-one business counselling and there are no pre-conditions to a first meeting. With a Business Link voucher the pre-start businesses or for businesses trading for less than one year, advice for 12 months is free (for businesses trading over one year the cost is £70.00 per annum).

STANTA will talk through business plans in total confidence and advisors will help to examine the strengths and weaknesses facing a business to minimise the risk of failure. Counsellors give advice on business plans and cash flow forecasts to assess the financial viability of ideas. They can help with any business issue. STANTA also provides on-line and telephone based training, including assessments for RIPH foundation certificate in food hygene and level 2 award in Food Safety in Catering.

STANTA also operates small business units located outside St Albans City Centre which are available on low risk easy-in/easy-out licences.

The organisation was formed in 1984 by local business people with help from St Albans City and District Council.

It is registered by the DTI asa local enterprise agency. It is also a member of the National Association of Enterprise Agencies and is part of a consortium which provides a county wide business advice service.

Date of AGM: September/October.

Opening Hours: Monday-Friday 9.30am-5.30pm.

Publications:
* The agency will supply "Project Northeast Factfiles";
* Specialist Business Publications.