VisitBritain/VisitEngland’s relaunched Business Advice Hub provides free resources to help England tourism businesses grow.
The Tourism Business Hub is a practical online resource designed to help tourism businesses grow and succeed. Whether you're looking to attract more international visitors, improve your digital marketing, develop and promote your sustainability strategy, or embrace regenerative tourism, the Hub provides expert guidance and practical advice.
You'll also find information on funding opportunities and local business support, health and safety requirements, legal obligations for accommodation providers and attractions, and ways to make your business more inclusive and accessible.
Topics currently covered on the Hub are:
Start your business
Understanding your market, get guidance on the practicalities of setting up a new business, planning your success and where to find help from mentors.
Find funding
Funding options for your business, guidance on managing finances more effectively to maximise your profit margins, and being prepared on how to resolve financial disputes in case they arise.
The Pink Book of legislation
Understanding your legal obligations as a tourism business-owner in England including licences, GDPR, employment and taxation.
Understand health and safety
How to run a safe business, creating a Fire Risk Assessment and providing guest safety information.
Make your business accessible and inclusive
Guidance, tools and resources to help you provide access for all and understand why being inclusive is important – gain a share of a £14.6 billion market. Complete the free training session on Welcoming LGBTQIA+ Customers to maximise your knowledge.
Regenerative Tourism
How to save money, reduce your impact and win more customers with practical sustainability tips and case studies.
Employ and manage staff
Step-by-step guides to finding and employing staff, guidance on managing employees and information on apprenticeships.
Find training
Training courses for you and your staff on customer service, digital skills and inclusion.
Get quality assessed
How to get an official star rating, accreditation or accolade for your business from VisitEngland to expand your exposure and gain recognition of your practices.
Enter the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence
How to apply for one of the highest accolades in English tourism – the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence.
Market your business
Find effective ways to promote your business to visitors, maximise digital channels and get involved with our initiatives and campaigns.
How to attract international visitors
Learn what international visitors want and how to promote your business overseas with these useful resources and e-learning courses to become ‘international ready’.
Find local support
An online tool that tells you who your Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP) is, who takes the lead in managing and developing tourism in your area (pssst this is Visit West!), and search where your local growth hubs are.
Manage a crisis
Always be prepared for a crisis situation, whether that is cost of living, natural disasters or cybersecurity; VisitEngland's tips and resources will help you prepare a plan which, hopefully, you will never need to use.
Explore the Hub and grow your tourism business now at www.visitengland.org/businessadvice.