CIDA - the Cultural Industries Development Agency, is a specialist support organisation for the creative and cultural sector offering services to individuals, new and existing businesses and not-for-profit organisations. Some of the courses they reguarly run are: First Steps to get freelancers and new businesses moving in the right direction, Creative Business Club offering knowledge through networking and intensive support to existing businesses, Digital Women's Club supporting women wanting to work in the creative digital sector and Sustain to Gain helping arts organisations and cultural groups become more sustainable. The also have updated lists of Jobs.

Artswork, an independent youth arts development agency committed to developing creative opportunities for young people aged 12-25, has developed Artsplan, a dedicated training and publications site. Artsplan offers training for individuals and organisations; publications to advise and inspire professionals working with young people and the arts acting as a resource for anyone looking to develop their skills, knowledge and creative ideas within youth arts; and guidelines to provide a useful introduction into specialist subject areas such as cultural diversity, disability, and young people at risk, with many complimenting current Artsplan training courses.

Skillset is the Sector Skills Council for Broadcast, Film, Video and Interactive Media. Their aim is to make sure that people interested in getting into film, photography and animation have the right skills, so they can make sure that the UK industry remains competitive. The website is full of content that will be of interest to anyone who's in, or thinking of getting into, the industry. They also have information on funding.

Arts Enterprise South London is a development programme for emerging artists, based in Merton, Kingston, Richmond, Sutton, Croydon or Bromley. It aims to support people working in the culturally diverse arts sector to start to work independently and grow businesses successfully. It offers tailored advice and guidance; access to new networks; one-to-one support from industry specialists; training in areas relevant to your sector.

Information and downloads from the website about starting your own business. They also run many workshops and offer free 30-minutes Business Plan Clinic Session.

Matt Roberts Arts is a not-for-profit organisation that works with early and mid career artists to aid their personal development plans and provide them with structured but informal educational opportunities. It is a voluntary organisation managed by emerging artists and curators providing ongoing professional development programme with different courses and internships. Also publish a free quarterly web based publication, 'art art art'.

The Clore Leadership Programme invites applications from individuals looking to take on significant leadership roles within culture. The Fellowships are open to candidates with at least 5 years' paid work experience of working in the cultural sector. The structure of the programme includes: residential courses, an extended placement for a period of approximately 3 months, individually-selected training, mentoring and coaching.

The Learning and Skills Council exists to make England better skilled and more competitive. Their single goal is to improve the skills of England's young people and adults to ensure a workforce of world-class standard. The LSC is a non departmental public body which began work in 2001, taking over the roles of the former Further Education Funding Council and Training and Enterprise Councils, and are responsible for planning and funding high quality education and training for everyone in England other than those in universities. Various locations around London, listed on their website.

Creative Learning Agency (CLA) is a publicly funded web-based news and information service which was set up in 2001 to provide educators and artists with information and support for arts education work. Creative Learning Agency works across the West of England, running a numbr of regular events.

Free to access online resources designed to inspire and enable visual arts teaching and learning.

Information and downloads from the website about starting and growing your own business. They also run business plan workshops.

They offer a range of consultancy and development services specifically suited to the needs of practitioners operating in the creative arts and cultural sections. Services to creative artists include: developing business models appropriate for creative practice; project planning, development and execution; negotiating and managing commissions, exhibitions, performances and events; negotiating with agents, dealers and cultural organizations; dealing with art galleries, museums and collectors; using open source and creative commons material; intellectual property rights awareness and management; mediating to resolve creative arts business disputes.