Budding Entrepreneurs Packed Out This Month's Start Up Conference!

Yesterday budding entrepreneurs packed out city centre location, 54 St James Street to find out all about Enterprise Hub - a cohesive programme of business start-up support!

Individuals who were thinking about starting their own businesses or going self-employed were invited to 54 St James Street, which is the home of Enterprise Hub partner; The Women's Organisation.

Once there they had the opportunity to hear from local business owners who shared tips on how they moved from their initial idea stage, to running their own business. 


They also took part in group activities such as a questionnaire to understand if self-employment is the right decision for them.

And they were given the chance to network with others who were considering starting a business and able to make those key connections early! 

The attendees found out all about the funded programme of support that is available to them through Enterprise Hub, and were able to register so they can begin receiving advice and support straight away! 

All in all, it was a fantastic morning spent with a room full of budding entrepreneurs who are ready to turn their business idea into a reality!

John & Nigel Are Acting Their Way To Success

Musical theatre professionals John and Nigel are dancing their way towards success with their new business venture actOvation, thanks to business start-up support from St Helens Chamber and the Enterprise Hub.

With over 30 years’ experience in the musical theatre industry, John and Nigel decided the next step was to go into business together delivering musical theatre workshops.

John said, “We’d thought about setting up the business for a long time and not really known how to start it, so when the opportunity to receive free start-up support came along we grabbed it with both hands.”

actOvation aims to bring musical theatre into schools, teaching children drama, stage craft, songs and harmonies.

“The workshops allow children to explore activities outside of school and SATS and enjoy themselves.” Adds Nigel.

“It’s all about wellbeing. Too much goes on online today and everything is about social media. We’re about physically getting up and doing something and having fun.”

Following feedback from workshops they have already held, the pair have now discovered a gap in the market and are looking into providing classes for adults and corporate groups.

 

John & Nigel in centre

John was referred to St Helens Chamber for the Business start-up workshops by his local JobCentre Plus. The workshops focus on writing a business plan, marketing and funding your business and registering with HMRC.

John Said: “We were told that Nigel could also take part in the business start-up workshops, which was great. Every single mentor was fantastic. They instilled us with confidence."

“We went in with such big ideas that we thought were achievable but in reality weren’t. The advisers were great at making us think realistically.”

Nigel in costume!

With a great deal of enthusiasm and experience on their side, John and Nigel are focusing on growing their business and establishing themselves.

The duo plan to deliver their workshops to schools and businesses in the North West but are currently offering them throughout the UK as they begin to develop and grow the business.

St Helens Chamber is part of Enterprise Hub, the enterprise gateway for free business start-up support in Merseyside.  Offering expert advice and support to anyone thinking about starting a business including help to:

• Understand the process of starting a business
• Research a business idea
• Build a comprehensive business plan
• Develop a marketing plan
• Create financial forecasts to understand the costs of running your  business and potential incomeIdentify sources of finance to get started

If like John and Nigel you would like support to start your own business, then contact Enterprise Hub on enterprisehub@thewo.org.uk or 0151 706 8113

Start Up Conference is back! Thursday 27th April - 54 St James Street

Following the amazing success of the Start Up Conference in Sefton, the Enterprise Hub are back on April 27th to provide invaluable information for potential entrepreneurs. If you have a passionate business idea, but not sure how to get started then don’t hesitate to register for this FREE conference.

During this event, you will hear from various successful local business owners who will share valuable business tips. There will be group activities to allow you to understand the practicalities involved in self-employment. As Networking is vital for your success, you will be given the chance to network with others who are considering starting a business and develop key connections.
 

 

 

Asking business owners who have received support from the Enterprise Hub to speak is a fantastic way for the individuals attending the conference to hear first-hand about the support they too, can receive. At Sefton's  event, the Enterprise Hub invited along Florentyna Sidery to speak about the support that The Women's Organisation had given her when starting her business Florentyna Designs. The upcoming event will continue to invite guest speakers to discuss their success.

 

The Enterprise Hub work in partnership with The Women's Organisation and Start-up Direct. Combining these successful organisations has created a powerful force that offers you all the advice you require to become your own boss. The conference takes place on Thursday 27th April from 10am-1pm at 54 St James Street. Places are FREE and open to anyone living in Merseyside who is looking to start a business. So, if you would like to attend this event,  register here.

If you have an idea for a business, then contact Enterprise Hub to find out about the free advice and support available on 0151 706 8113 or enterprisehub@thewo.org.uk

 

 

 

 

Enterprise Hub Start Up Conference Goes on Tour to Sefton!

Aspiring entrepreneurs gathered for our last Start-Up conference, and this time we took it on tour to Sefton! 

Enterprise Hub partner; The Women’s Organisation hosted a Business Start Up Conference at The Atkinson Library in Southport to inform over 30 attendees about the business support available to them through Enterprise Hub.

In attendance were Enterprise Hub partners, Alt Valley Community Trust and The Princes Trust, Start-Up Direct and Invest Sefton.

Alt Valley Community Trust brought along their client James Dale to share his inspiring entrepreneurial journey on setting up his personal training business – thanks James! You can read James' full story over on the blog. We were also joined by Nick Bell from StartUp Direct to discuss the types of start-up loans that are available to those thinking about setting up a business and going self-employed.

Lastly, Katie Dullaghan, client of The Women’s Organisation shared her experience of working alongside The Women’s Organisation when setting up her dentistry business. Kate said: “Everything they do at The Women’s Organisation, the courses, the advice, the support, it’s all to uplift you. I knew the moment I walked in to 54 St James Street I was going to love it”. Thanks, Katie!

Bernie Cox talked to the attendees all about the characteristics of an entrepreneur, thinking outside of the box being one of them. Bernie split the attendees into small groups and asked them to think of all the possible uses for the cardboard box that they had been given.

Finally, guests were given a chance to speak to the organisations in attendance and ask any questions they had and network with some of the other people in attendance. Even though our guests hadn’t yet started their businesses, they knew that it was never too soon to start networking and getting the word out there about what they intend to do.

Following on from the Start Up Conference, everyone that was in attendance and was eligible for Enterprise Hub support will be paired up with an Enterprise Hub partner and begin working on turning their dreams of starting a business, into a reality!

Thanks to everyone who came along!