Frequently Asked Questions
Find the answers to your business support, business funding and digital services questions.
Business Support FAQs
General Services
We believe in the power of knowledge. Our approach focuses on building resilience and confidence while addressing your unique challenges. We create personalised programmes of support tailored specifically to your business’s development areas, rather than offering one-size-fits-all solutions.
CNT Associates works with SMEs, non-profits, community interest companies and charities across various industries. We scale our tailored support to match your growth ambitions.
We conduct a comprehensive review of your business to identify areas for development and challenges. This assessment helps us build a personalised programme that addresses your specific needs and ambitions.
Business Coaching
Business coaching focuses on one-to-one sessions to help you work through specific challenges and gain clarity. Business support provides comprehensive, holistic assistance during key business transitions or projects.
The duration varies depending on your specific challenges and goals. We work with you to select the right package of coaching support, whether it addresses immediate issues or develops long-term strategic capabilities.
Yes, our funding advice covers various stages of business development, from initial startup capital to growth funding and expansion financing for established businesses. Please visit our Funding Support page for more information, or refer to our specific funding FAQs below.
Training and Development
Yes, our upskilling services include training for both business owners and their staff. We know that sustainable growth and improvement come from embedded practices.
Our digital advice focuses on developing your business website and enhancing your online presence. We also offer guidance in other areas such as AI, social media and email marketing. For more details, visit our Digital Services page or refer to the specific digital service FAQs below.
Yes, we provide guidance on networking, making valuable business contacts, and developing strategies to gain new clients or customers. We also help you identify and develop essential business partnerships.
Practical Considerations
We offer both options depending on your needs. We can provide one-time comprehensive reviews or ongoing support programmes designed for long-term business development and growth.
Success is measured based on your specific goals and development areas identified during our initial assessment. We celebrate tangible improvements in business performance, efficiency, and your confidence in managing operations.
Your first consultation will involve discussing your current challenges, your goals, and sharing information about your business. We’ll work together to understand your needs and set out objectives and milestones for your growth journey.
Getting Started
Come prepared to discuss your current business challenges, goals, and relevant organisational and financial information. A clear and honest overview of your business helps us develop the best programme of support.
Business Funding FAQs
About Our Services
We assist with a wide range of funding opportunities, including grants, government contracts, tender applications, and various fundraising initiatives.
Yes, we provide funding support for businesses, non-profits, generative businesses and charities. We tailor our approach based on the unique requirements and opportunities available to different types of organisations.
Our team researches sector-specific funding opportunities, understands industry terminology and requirements, and crafts applications that resonate with specialist funders.
Our Track Record & Success
Our team has successfully secured over £30 million in funding for businesses and community support services across London, Kent, and beyond.
While we cannot guarantee funding success due to the competitive nature of most programmes, our proven track record and expertise significantly increase your chances. Clients should consider commissioning fundraising services carefully and with full awareness of the risks. CNT Associates only take on projects where we believe there’s a strong potential for success.
Successful bid funding applications are subject to success fees based on a formula supplied in advance by CNT Associates. We are proud to include an aftercare plan as part of your fundraising support process. We’ll help you create a plan for post-funding growth execution, and you’ll receive access to our knowledge hub and consultants to support sustainable scaling.
Specific Fundraising Services
Our funding research service is included in many of our Funding packages, but can also be offered as a stand-alone service. Funding research involves identifying relevant funding opportunities that align with your business objectives, eligibility criteria, and project requirements. We analyse available grants, competitions, and funding programmes to create a targeted list of opportunities for your organisation.
We can handle the entire grant application process, from initial research to final submission. Our team crafts compelling applications that highlight your project’s strengths, demonstrate clear outcomes, and align with funders’ priorities. We ensure all requirements are met and deadlines are adhered to. Alternatively, if you have pre-written your application, we can review it and optimise it accordingly.
Absolutely. We have extensive experience with government tender processes and contract applications. Our team understands the specific requirements, compliance standards, and evaluation criteria used in public sector procurement. This includes local, regional and national government contracts.
Yes, we assist with funding reports, monitoring requirements, and ongoing compliance obligations. Our support doesn’t end when funding is secured. We help ensure you meet all funder requirements throughout the project lifecycle.
Training & Coaching Services
Yes, we offer fundraising training packages for businesses that prefer a DIY approach. This is ideal if you have a good understanding of the fundraising process but need guidance on specific areas or want to build internal capacity.
Our 1:1 coaching includes strategy development, application review, skills development, and ongoing support throughout your fundraising journey.
Process & Timelines
Timelines vary depending on the complexity of the application and funder requirements. Simple grant applications take up to 4 weeks, while comprehensive tender documents or major funding bids can take 12-26 weeks.
Your involvement level depends on the service you choose. For full application writing services, we handle most of the work while keeping you informed and seeking input on key decisions. For coaching or training services, you’ll be more actively involved in the process.
If an application is unsuccessful, we can help you understand the reasons. We often assist with resubmissions to the same funder or help identify alternative funding opportunities that might be more suitable.
Pricing & Getting Started
Our fees are tailored to the scope and complexity of each project. We offer fixed prices for specific services and flexible price packages for coaching and consulting services. Contact us for a detailed quote based on your particular requirements.
We typically need details about your business, project objectives, funding requirements, financial information relevant to the bid, timelines, and any specific opportunities you’re interested in.
Getting started is simple – contact us to discuss your funding needs and objectives. We’ll arrange an initial consultation to understand your requirements and recommend the most appropriate service package for your situation.
Digital Services FAQs
Website Questions
The time it takes to build a website will be dependent on your requirements. Please get in touch with us to arrange an initial free consultation to discuss your project. We will assess your requirements and provide you with an estimated timescale for completion.
We will ensure that your website looks and functions well across all devices, i.e. desktops, laptops, smartphones and tablets.
Yes, we will include a privacy notice and cookie banner on your website. We only use plugins and apps that comply with GDPR requirements.
All of the websites we develop will have an SSL/TLS certificate installed, so you can rest assured that the data flowing to and from your website is encrypted. We can provide you with adequate training so you’ll be confident in maintaining your website’s security after we have launched it.
We build websites on WordPress, Wix and Shopify.
Yes, we build e-commerce websites using WooCommerce (a WordPress plugin) or Shopify.
Please send us a link to your website and we will conduct an audit which covers several areas, including user experience, design, mobile friendliness, search engine optimisation (SEO), security and GDPR compliance.
We can work with you to select a suitable domain name and we will create the email inboxes that you require.
Yes, we provide a migration service for clients who are seeking to move their website to a different platform. Common migrations that we have performed in the past include Wix to WordPress and Wix to Shopify.
The total cost for building a website depends on a variety of factors, such as the complexity of your project, the number of pages to be developed, whether you need e-commerce functionality and any additional services required. Please contact us to schedule a free consultation to discuss your needs. We will then assess your requirements and provide you with an accurate quote.
For ongoing support with your website, please choose our website maintenance service. This service includes content updates, product management (for e-commerce stores), plugin updates, search engine optimisation (SEO) health checks and website security health checks. We will agree on a fixed number of hours per month before the contract begins.
Yes. We highly recommend our copywriting service to complement our web design service. Your copy will be professionally written in the tone of voice that is appropriate to your target audience. Professionally written copy also improves your website’s search engine optimisation (SEO) to help it rank higher in search results.
Other Digital Services Questions
Yes, our digital consultant can provide recommendations for the most appropriate tools to help you save time and grow your business. We will provide you with the necessary training to use the tools, or if you prefer a more hands-off approach, we will manage your digital tasks for you.
Indeed. We will work with you to develop a digital marketing strategy that’s tailored to your unique business needs. We’ll begin with an audit to assess your current strategy. We will then create an action plan which outlines the recommended actions for you to take within the next 12 months.