Torbay Development Agency

About Us

Torbay Development Agency’s mission, in the context of the Torbay Community Plan which aims to generate economic prosperity in the Bay, is to bring about the regeneration of Torbay and deliver the economic benefits to the whole community.

• Promoting Torbay as a business location, attracting investment and providing support for existing businesses to develop and grow
• Working with partners, enabling local people to benefit from improved employment opportunities generated by economic development

The TDA is delivering a work programme principally derived from the Economic Strategy and its supporting plan.

Business Start-up Support Programme

Ready for Business is a free one day workshop for anyone interested in finding out more about running their own business. It covers some of the most important aspects of planning needed to start a new business or revitalise a flagging one. By concentrating on two key elements Market Research and Understanding Cash Flow you can start to understand how to make your business more secure. The use of workbooks during the day gives a great head start to producing a new business plan. As well as this you get to meet other businesses to network with and share experiences.

The workshops take place every month and booking is essential

Outset Torbay has been commissioned to deliver an intensive start up support programme to help you up their own business. The Outset programme offers flexible, tailor made support designed to suit your needs. The scheme offers FREE intensive business start-up support designed to equip clients with the skills and confidence needed to start and grow successful, sustainable enterprises in Torbay. The programme offers 16 three-hour workshops and one-to-one coaching to take clients all the way from considering self-employment, to starting their own business and beyond.

Workshops are delivered in venues across the Bay at a mix of times to fit in with busy lives, including during school hours, evenings and weekends.  One-to-one support, mentoring and coaching are available from our enterprise advisors, to help you keep your business plans on track, as well as a well-established and friendly networking group of other local business start-ups within Torbay.

Peninsula Enterprise can help you set up your own social enterprise; or if you are already involved in the running of a social enterprise, they can help you plan the growth and development of your business.

South West Investment Group offer micro loans up to the value of £7,500 to any business which has been turned down by a bank and has a viable business plan. New businesses often find it hard to secure start up funding so this micro loans project ensure you can get funding if you need it.

Why Torbay?

• Competitive costs
• Transport links
• High quality business premises
• Growing clusters of key sectors
• Regeneration projects
• Quality of life
• Skilled workforce

Companies looking to invest in Torbay will benefit from a comprehensive range of professional help at every stage.

The Torbay Touchdown scheme offers free-of-charge advice from specialists in key sectors and the potential for discounted start-up space.

Business Support & Advice

The TDA is focused on generating new jobs by supporting local businesses whether they are looking to start up, develop or grow. 

For new businesses, there are intensive start –up support and loans available through the European Regional Development Fund Enterprise Coaching programme. There is extra support for job-seekers who have been registered for over six months, through the New Enterprise Allowance.

For growing businesses we hold regular business workshops and networking events, recent events have covered access to finance, information on skills and recruitment, support for businesses considering exporting  to help you expand into overseas markets and a one-to-one business advisory service to provide direct on-hand support and signpost you to other relevant services. To find out more visit the Growing Your Business link above.

For information on the regular breakfast networking events held at our innovation centres alongside other events and workshops held by the TDA and our partners please visit our events listings, here.

With all this going on to support business in Torbay, we are aiming to attract new investors to take up the opportunities on offer in the Bay. To help them relocate quickly and profitably, we offer a “soft-landings service” to help at every step of the way, from finding premises and staff to identifying suppliers and clients. Download our factsheet – Torbay Touchdown – at the Invest in Torbay section.

There is as wealth of property available in Torbay, according to the needs of different business sectors, ranging from workspace at the TDA’s South West Innovations Centres to large commercial premises and small units and workhubs.

Explore our commercial property search which lists available premises from a range of agents and owners throughout Torbay.

Through the links above you can discover the full range of support we can give your business to help strengthen the economy in the Bay, or for one-to-one advice please contact our Business Advisor at enquiries@tedcltd.com.

The TDA is an Associate Member of the National Enterprise Network, a membership body for those committed to the support and development of enterprise.

Members are not-for-profit organisations which provide independent and impartial advice, training and mentoring to new and emerging businesses.

Contact Us

Contacting us by post Torbay Development Agency Tor Hill House
Union Street
Torquay
TQ2 5QW

Contacting us by email enquiries@tedcltd.com

Contacting us by telephone 01803 207948

Contacting us by fax 01803 208976