Born from the French word “entreprendre,” meaning “to undertake”, the meaning of “entrepreneur” has evolved over the years. Today, it can describe:

• The side-hustler who’s just registered their first business name.
• The founder two years in, refining their product or service to meet the needs of a growing customer base.
• The scaling CEO, ready to build a team, expand markets, or secure investment.

At Origin Workspace, we’ve seen all these stages up close. “We’ve gotten to know hundreds of professionals over the past six years,” says Rob Hingston, Origin Workspace MD, “and we know how isolating it can be in the early stages of starting a business, or the challenges faced where you’re almost ready to make your first hire. The main problem is that many entrepreneurs have the skills and the drive, but they lack the resources and connections needed to take the next steps.”

Over the last six years, we’ve listened to and supported members through the waves of business highs and lows. For those not yet a part of our community, we’ve created this free, stage-by-stage guide, so you can spend less time searching for help and more time building your business.

Starting Out: Your Launchpad

When you’re in your first year, the to-do list feels infinite: register the business, create a brand, find customers… and maybe still keep the lights on with your day job. The right resources can speed up the learning curve:

• The King’s Trust – Business Support (one of the seven charities the Origin Foundation donates to)
  Free guidance, mentoring, and funding support for new entrepreneurs (ages 18-30) .
  🔗 Visit The King’s Trust
• Help to Grow – Start a Business
  Government-backed step-by-step guidance for registration, planning, and marketing.
  🔗 Explore Help to Grow
• Enterprise Nation – StartUp UK
  Free online events, learning modules, and templates for building a solid foundation.
  🔗 Check out Enterprise Nation
• 1st Formations – Advice for Entrepreneurs
  Practical advice on everything from company formation to tax and compliance.
  🔗 Read 1st Formations

Refining Your Offerings: Years 2–3

By now, you know your customers, but you may be juggling inconsistent income, operational bottlenecks, or evolving product-market fit. Here’s where to sharpen your edge:

• British Library Business & IP Centre (BIPC)
  Interactive map to find free workshops, market research databases, and IP guidance.
  🔗 Browse the BIPC Map
• Mentorsme
  A national portal to connect you with experienced mentors across industries.
  🔗 Find a Mentor
• Henley Business Angels
  Networking opportunities, pitch preparation, and investor readiness guides.
  🔗 Visit Henley Business Angels Resources

Scaling Up: Going Beyond Solo

Scaling is more than growth, it’s also systems, strategy, and sustainable funding. These free resources can help you step up:

• Help to Grow – Management (HR)
  Free tools and training for people management and team building.
  🔗 Get HR Support
• Global Entrepreneur Programme (GEP)
  Government support for scaling internationally, with market access advice.
  🔗 Discover GEP
• Henley Business Angels – Entrepreneurs
  Pitch opportunities and access to active angel investor networks.
  🔗 Learn More
• Enterprise Nation – Cost of Doing Business Hub
  Practical guides to manage rising costs and maintain profitability while expanding.
  🔗 Read More

🛠 Free Tools for Every Stage

Regardless of where you are in your journey, these tools can boost productivity and creativity without denting your budget:

• Google Docs / Sheets – Free, cloud-based collaboration.
• Trello – Project management made visual.
• Canva – Create marketing materials, social posts, and presentations.
• Mailchimp (Free Tier) – Email marketing for up to 500 subscribers.
• Bplans.com – Sample business plans for inspiration and structure.
• SurveyMonkey, Statista, Think with Google – Market research and consumer insight tools.

Your knowledge and passion are the biggest drivers of your success but your environment plays a vital role too. Having a supportive community to lean on is something we truly pride ourselves on. Don’t wait to discover our ad-hoc Day Passes Day Pass | Origin Workspace Bristol or flexible memberships Offices & Coworking | Flexible Memberships | Origin Workspace Bristol, designed to help you grow.

Entrepreneurship can be exciting, challenging, and sometimes overwhelming. Wherever you are on that path, we hope this collection of resources serves as a reminder that help is out there, and that your goals are worth pursuing with everything you’ve got.

About Origin Workspace

Origin Workspace is Bristol’s most engaged, collaborative and active business community for ambitious individuals and growing companies, with 42,000 sq. ft. of newly renovated coworking space.