Free guides for small businesses

We have created this free guide to shed some light on the subject of branding; what it is, how it works and how you can use it to help improve your business or the perception of your service.

Get advice on finding a web designer, working out what your business needs, deciding how your new website will work and keeping the project on time and on budget.

This step-by-step guide explains the process of finding and working with a designer – focusing on your needs and ensuring you get the most out of the project.

A free Design Council guide on how to write a design brief for small businesses, public services and anyone commissioning a designer

Our short guide to invention asks, just how does a novel idea become a new product or service? There's plenty of advice on who can help you develop your invention.

This short guide to Intellectual Property explains why, with more than 4 million patents in force worldwide, it’s not just global companies that need to watch out for infringers and plagiarists.

Innovation is what most companies rely on to fuel business growth. After all, in a competitive economic climate, can you really afford to rely on business as usual?

UK companies are realising that creativity, innovation and design assets are a vital source of competitive advantage entering international markets or responding to competition.