This is Wales's leading business support organisation, basically providing help for small and medium sized companies and entrepreneurs across the country. The aim is to help business overcome challenges and reach their full potential, and to achieve this Venture Wales provides start up programmes, consultancy schemes aimed at improving businesses' performance, and other support activities such as helping businesses to find funding. Their latest innovation is the launch of a new online educational game which where players learn business skills that help them achieve the mindset of an entrepreneur! Basically, anyone can play the free demo - but to play the full game you have to be registered, and to get registered you need to be a School, University, Enterprise Centre or any organisation looking to engage people in enterprise. You can find out more at the game's website at http://www.venturegamewales.co.uk/ read more

I have personally used Venture Wales and think it is an amazing service to the citizens of Cardiff. Venture Wales offer their services for free as they are funded through the Government. They will take you on if you are a budding entrepreneur and guide you on your way to success. I was planning on starting up a video production company- and still, just taking a little long to get the savings together- and my mentor was true brilliance. I would meet up with him and he would give me all sorts of advice, it also helped that we had a lot in common and this meant we got on really well and he made me feel at ease with my business. Venture Wales will help any business in need of guidance and I recommend it as the first place you should go if you are thinking of setting up a business and they will guide you on your way. read more

Throw away that stress ball baby entrepreneur, help is at hand. This business support organisation is the first point of call for all small and medium sized companies and entrepreneurs in Wales looking for advice and support on any aspect of their business. Established in 1983, they provide assistance and advice to over 1000 different companies every year. With access to one of the best support networks in Wales, and a variety of start up programmes and consultancy schemes aimed at improving performance, Venture specialise in helping businesses overcome challenges and to realise their full potential. Their private sector partnerships include all the major banks, accountants, lawyers, business angels, venture capitalists and industry groups in Wales. Need advice? Venture's advisory teams are well clued up and able to help you with key issues from strategy to marketing and finance or even what biscuits to order for that all-important meeting. Available services range from quick advice on business matters, longer-term support for early stage companies and in-depth specialist consultancy and funding support. No need for that Little Book of Calm now, eh? And breathe 1, 2, 3... read more

Venture Wales is a free service offered in Wales to people who would like to set up their own business. It is a fantastic service and suitable for people who are just in the early phases with an idea, people who have just started out on their own venture to people who just need some advice on tax etc. They offer a free workshop where you can go and share your idea with other people and you get three hours of info about the ins and outs of setting up. Following this, there is a range of courses that you can pick and choose which eventually will help you to write your own business plan. You are then assigned a business advisor who you meet with to discuss your business further if you wish. All of these services are free which is a brilliant service as courses and seminars on business can be really expensive. A meeting with a business advisor privately would also be expensive so this is brilliant. read more