Suzanne Rippon Took A Leap Of Faith Starting Her Business; Grosvenor Food Market

Taking the leap into the unknown and deciding to start your own business can be a big, scary decision.  To help people who have made the commitment to take this step, Wirral Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Enterprise Hub offer free business start-up workshops for any eligible party living in the Liverpool City Region.

When Suzanne Rippon chose to follow her heart and go it alone, the Enterprise Hub gave her the start she needed.

Suzanne first contacted to the Enterprise Hub in February 2018 looking for support to set up a Community Hub/Community Event Planning business in Liscard.  Having recently resigned from her job, Suzanne was starting on her enterprise journey with some trepidation. 

Her goal was to start up a community market in the Grosvenor Ballroom in Liscard, with the idea of renting tables out to local residents and businesses, giving them a space to promote their business and make sales. The owner of the Grosvenor Ballroom was keen to provide support for her idea with premises and tables.  Suzanne came to see Paul at the Enterprise Hub, with a view to putting on a ‘fun day’ for local children in Liscard offering face-painting and other fun activities.  

During Suzanne’s Enterprise Hub journey, she attended a number of workshops – Start-Up & Business Planning and Marketing & Social Media. It was clear that networking and getting feedback from the local community should play a big role of Suzanne’s strategy, she was advised to contact local counsellors, community champions and organisations to find out how her initiative would best fit in with the local provision.  

Suzanne received valuable help and advice on the most effective way to run the promotional day. This included the sharing of contacts, getting in touch with compatible, local businesses and liaising with local stall holders and interested parties. This was all done in conjunction with Wirral Chamber’s Love Liscard initiative who are able to help promote local businesses on social media.  Town Hosts Ian and Arfon were instrumental in promoting the event as well as providing ‘boots on the ground’ help with delivering leaflets and spreading the word among local businesses and shoppers.

Suzanne told us, “The love Liscard team and the Wirral chamber are absolutely amazing! I went with an idea to start a new chapter of my life and they have been my rock through my journey of ups and downs. Ian and Harry are the most amazing support and are on hand with support and guidance all the time. I can honestly say I couldn’t have done this without them!! They are my heroes.”

The programme supports those who are eligible and want to start-up and are yet to register their business, make their business dreams come true.

The half-day workshops take place on a monthly basis with experts from Wirral Chamber of Commerce providing attendees with a range of support to help them gain the knowledge and confidence to start their own business.

If you are considering or in the process of starting your own business would like more info on the Enterprise Hub then contact us on enterprisehub@thewo.org.uk or 0151 706 8113