Running a business on the Wirral, there's more free help available than most owners realise. The trouble is it's spread across councils, colleges, chambers and community groups, and half the lists online are out of date.
This is the list we give clients. We checked every link and every description in September 2026, and we re-check it every quarter. Nobody here paid to be listed.
Start here: free one-to-one advice
Wirral Business Support Service
Free help to start, grow and develop a Wirral business, delivered by Wirral Chamber of Commerce on behalf of Wirral Council. It includes one-to-one support from a business adviser, business reviews and action plans, and workshops. It's open to pre-start ideas, established businesses and charities.
Council page · Wirral Chamber's page
Growth Platform (Liverpool City Region)
The city region's growth company. It offers free business advice and support across the Liverpool City Region, from starting up to growing.
Business support
GOV.UK Business Support
The national starting point for setting up and running a business, including the Business Support Helpline.
Get help and support for your business
Research, ideas and intellectual property
Business & IP Centre Liverpool
On the first floor of Liverpool Central Library. It helps you research a market, look up company information and protect an idea, and it runs events and courses for people starting or growing a business.
Business and IP Centre Liverpool
Money
Start Up Loans
Government-backed loans of up to £25,000 for starting or growing a business, with mentoring alongside.
startuploans.co.uk
Find a grant (GOV.UK)
The government's own search for grants open to businesses and organisations. Check here before paying anyone who offers to "find you funding".
find-government-grants.service.gov.uk
Skills, staff and apprenticeships
Wirral Met College: Employers
Training, apprenticeships and help accessing funding for training. The college says it works with over 600 employers and local organisations.
Wirral Met for employers
Charities, CICs and social enterprises
Wirral CVS
Support for Wirral's voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector: advice, volunteering, funding, partnerships and collaboration.
wcvs.org.uk
Kindred
Invests in socially trading organisations across the Liverpool City Region, through money, support and collaboration.
kindred-lcr.co.uk
Local networks and directories
Heswall & District Business Association
Protects, promotes and supports local businesses in Heswall, and keeps traders informed about local issues. It runs a business directory.
Directory
Hoylake Village Life
A community site for Hoylake with a local business directory.
Directory
Wirral In The Loop
A Wirral business networking group with an online directory, events calendar and business news.
wirralintheloop.co.uk
Wirral Spend Independent
A shop-local scheme for independent Wirral and Chester businesses. It's free for businesses to join in return for offering cardholders a discount.
wirralspendindependent.com
Wirral Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber runs the free Business Support Service above, and also offers paid membership for networking, events and a member directory.
wirralchamber.co.uk
National communities
Enterprise Nation
A UK community of small businesses and advisers, with events, guides and access to business advice.
enterprisenation.com
Just over the border: Chester and Cheshire West
Let's Talk Business Cheshire West
The council's business support service for the Cheshire West area, covering starting, developing and growing a business.
letstalkbizcw.co.uk
Frequently asked questions
Is business support on the Wirral really free?
The Wirral Business Support Service is fully funded and free to Wirral businesses, charities and pre-start ideas. Some of the other organisations here charge for membership or events, and we say so where they do.
Where should a brand new Wirral business start?
Start with the Wirral Business Support Service for a one-to-one adviser. Then add Start Up Loans if you need finance, and the Business & IP Centre if you need market research.
Is there help for charities and community groups?
Yes. Wirral CVS supports the voluntary and community sector, and Kindred invests in social enterprises across the city region. The Wirral Business Support Service is also open to charities.
Know a genuinely useful Wirral organisation we've missed, or spotted a link that's changed? Tell us and we'll check it and add it. Bright Loop Media is a web studio on the Wirral. For help with your own website, start with our free 12-point website check.
