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WELCOME TO OUR Business scale-up hub
At Ashfords we love working with people who are turning great ideas into the next generation of businesses, and we are privileged to work with some of the most exciting growing businesses in the UK and beyond, as well as some of the world's leading venture capital funds.
From speaking to founders and investors alike, we understand that access to legal expertise for new businesses can be challenging when they are striving to accomplish so much with limited resources. We have developed this area on our website to provide a selection of resources & insights to help introduce some of the main topics from a legal perspective, and when you need it - our team can help your business take the next step in its growth, whatever that looks like.
Our resources help businesses every step of the way, ranging from our extensive FAQs covering many of the legal points start-up and scaling businesses should know, to more detailed guides and articles on specific areas (see, for example, our Guide to the New National Security & Investment Act). You can also find useful document templates, as well as find out more about our work and how we have helped other growing businesses realise their ambitions.
Getting investment ready - a guide to the investment process
We have put together this helpful guide which includes a legal checklist to go through prior to starting the investment process, and a series of FAQs on some of the things you’ll need to think about in the early stages of an investment process.
Find out moreNew National Security Act | A Guide
The National Security and Investment Act 2021 will give governmental regulatory bodies powers to investigate investments into UK companies, which they believe may have "national security" implications.
Find out moreView the series of FAQs aimed at de-mystifying term sheets for entrepreneurs and start-ups.
Find out moreA checklist for setting up and running an online business or marketplace
Our checklist guides you through the key components of creating a successful website for your business.
Find out moreAn introduction to GDPR and data protection
A business must comply with the Data Protection Act 2018 and the UK GDPR. This page describes the main features of data protection and how the rules may impact your business.
Find out more8 steps to data protection compliance - returning to the 'new normal'
In 2020, the ICO, in response to the pandemic, issued a list of 6 key steps that organisations need to consider around use of personal information and have recently published some further recommendations that organisations need to consider. We have extracted the key parts of the guidance and added additional points to consider.
Find out moreHints and tips for struggling businesses
If your business has started to struggle you maybe unsure of what you can do to turn it around and minimise the risk of your business entering financial difficulties. Here are our top 5 tips.
Find out moreAn introduction to the private sector IR35 reforms
IR35 is the tax legislation that is designed to assess whether contractors are genuine contractors or disguised employees for the purposes of paying tax. We look at the reforms from April 2020 which will see a shift in responsibility for determining the tax status from the individual to the recipient of the contractor’s services.
Find out moreAt Ashfords we have a wealth of experience helping businesses from a variety of sectors with their legal matters. Have a look at some of our work.
Find out moreDownloads
- Sample Due Diligence Questionnaire (DOCX)
- Sample Investment NDA (DOCX)
- Template Register of Directors and Secretaries (DOCX)
- Template Register of Directors’ Residential Addresses (DOCX)
- Template Register of Share Applications and Allotments (DOCX)
- Template Register of Share Transfers (DOCX)
- Template Register of Members (DOCX)
- Template Register of People with Significant Control (DOCX)
- Template Advance Subscription Agreement (DOCX)
- Template Stock Transfer Form (DOCX)
- Template Share Certificate (DOCX)
- Template s431 Tax Election (DOC)
- Template Board Minutes (DOCX)
- Template Consent to Act as a Director (DOCX)
- Template General Consent Letter (DOCX)
- NSIA Guide 2022 (PDF)
- Getting investment ready - a guide to the investment process (PDF)