Mum & Daughter are Creating a Recipe for Business Success with their New Venture 'Perfect Samosa'

Knowsley resident Kay Wadud launched her new business with help from the Enterprise Hub Programme and since starting it’s just snowballed – and how could it not when her and co-founder daughter Sanya have dedicated their business to creating the 'Perfect Samosa'.  

Kay told us; "I had no idea when I started it that this would happen. I knew that they were things that people loved but I never dreamed it would grow this fast." Within a matter of months, Kay has moved from her utility room into purpose-built kitchens and is quickly building up a client basis across the North-West of the country.

Prior to setting up her own business Kay was a Police Officer and lived in Bedfordshire, before moving to Merseyside and working as a Business Analyst looking at Wirral Council’s digital strategies. However, when facing a career crossroads, Kay started to reflect.

"When my last contract came to an end I decided that I just needed a change" said Kay. "I knew I was employable but I kept thinking – what is it that I want to do? And making food, making people happy with food has always been a passion of mine!"

Once Kay had decided that she would take a leap into the unknown, she got in touch with Enterprise Hub partners The Women’s Organisation and began working closely with a Business Adviser, attending courses and workshops to build her business skills and receiving ongoing support with her business plan. Kay has built up a close relationship with adviser John and Training Coordinator Bernie and was extremely grateful for the support received saying:

"Bernie has been tremendous! When we first came we were taken aback by her Planning for Success course because it was so good! And John has been great – he’s been helping us with the numbers because he’s good at those! John is also there to bounce ideas off of, he’s been a fantastic help to us which I’m grateful for."

Things have really started to get exciting for Perfect Samosa in the last couple of months after they were crowned BBC Good Food Show Champions.

Read the full story about Perfect Samosa here. 

If you would like to find out how to taste the Perfect Samosa, visit their website here. 

And for more information on the European Regional Development Fund backed programme 'Enterprise Hub' and the free support you can receive to help get your business off the ground, contact the team on 0151 706 8113 or enterprisehub@thewo.org.uk. 

Enterprise Hub Business Start-up Conference Heads to Sefton

Following two successful conferences in Liverpool City Centre, the Enterprise Hub team are excited to be heading out on the road to inspire the local residents in Sefton.

Teaming up with Invest Sefton and Startup Direct, the Enterprise Hub Business Start-up team will be giving budding entrepreneurs in Sefton the opportunity to explore their ideas and understand the practicalities of going into business through the 'Enterprise Hub Business Start-up Conference Sefton'. 

The conference takes place on Thursday 20th October from 10am-1pm at the L20 Hub, the new conference centre within the Hugh Baird campus in Sefton. Places are FREE and open to anyone living in Merseyside who is looking to start a business.

At the event budding business owners will hear from successful entrepreneurs about how they went about building their business empire, get more information about how to access finance to start, be taken through excercises to understand the practicalities of business, and find out more about how Enterprise Hub and InvestSefton can help local businesses to start and flourish. 

Jo Austin from the Enterprise Hub Team said:
"We have run two fantastically successful conferences in Liverpool so far, but Enterprise Hub is a Liverpool City Region service, so it's important that we take the key enterprise messages out to the other boroughs.  I'm please that our first one outside of Liverpool is in my home turf of Sefton where there is a great opportunity for new businesses to get started.  We look forward to hearing from our inspirational speakers and supporting everyone attending to assess their ideas and tap into free support."

Nick Bell,Startup Direct North West Regional Development Manager has said:

"Startup Direct Liverpool are very pleased to sponsor the Enterprise Hub conference in Sefton. As a leading delivery partner for the UK government's Start-Up Loans Scheme we have already helped more than 1,500 UK businesses access more than £12M of funding." Anyone interested in finding out more about the funding can hear a short talk on this at the conference and chat to the team. 

Business Growth Adviser Julie Swarbrick from Invest Sefton told us  “InvestSefton is delighted to participate in this event, hosted by the Enterprise Hub.  InvestSefton offers a range of funded support for businesses in Sefton, to help them flourish and grow.  We do this through a ‘one stop shop’ approach for all business enquiries, whatever your business type or sector.  Some of our friendly growth officers will be on hand at the event to chat to local businesses, and if you miss it you can call our team who will be pleased to assist you with your business enquiry.”

Book a free ticket for the event here. 

If you can't attend the conference, but want to find out more about the Enterprise Hub which is delivered thanks to European Regional Development Fund please contact our team on 0151 706 8113 or enterprisehub@thewo.org.uk. 

Young Entrepreneur & Tattoo Artist Sophie Bailey is Creating a Business with a Lasting Impression

Sefton resident Sophie Bailey has turned her artistic skills into a business with help from the Enterprise Hub Programme. 

Sophie Bailey first approached Alt Valley Community Trust in January 2016 for business start-up advice, having been recommended by a colleague who had previously received Business Support Advice on the Making Business Work programme through Alt Valley Community Trust.

Sophie, 21 yrs old, had not long since finished her Art & Design course at City of Liverpool College, having previously had part time employment at a local Garden Centre in Maghull.

Sophie with a recent client

Sophie told us “I have always been interested in art but from a standpoint of creating long-lasting and impactful images that are more than just static art form. So the chance to become a self- employed tattoo artist had real appeal, especially as I could get so much free professional business start-up advice.”

Sophie spotted an opportunity in her local community:

“As a long-term resident of Maghull I was aware of a local tattoo salon in Maghull, Studio City Ink run by Michael Seerey, which gave me the thought that I might just have a business opportunity on my doorstep.”

Looking for support to turn her idea into a business Sophie approached Alt Valley Community Trust to take advantage of the free support on offer through Enterprise Hub.

“Having signed onto the Enterprise Hub business start-up programme with Alt Valley Community Trust, I was teamed up with one of their Business Advisors Roy Meredith, who arranged for me to attend an initial Business Start Up workshop along with 6 other people who were in a very similar situation to me. I thought it was great - very informative and relaxed, with just the right level of information and participation.”

One of Sophie's Tattoo Designs

After this initial workshop, Roy worked on a one-to-one basis with Sophie to help her frame her business plans and develop new skills that will be essential to the future success of the business.

Coincidentally, at around the time Sophie decided to become self- employed, Michael Seerey was re- launching his newly located and expanded salon in Maghull, so Sophie has located into that salon, whilst at the same time developing her own clientele base and creating her own art and style of tattooing.

Since Sophie launched her business in April she has completed over 130 unique tattoos for as many as 98 clients, people mainly in the 30-40 year old age bracket, but also younger and much older! 

She said ""I get all sorts of people calling in wanting something tattooing which is really different – perhaps to celebrate a newly born child, or remember somebody by. Or people who simply say to themselves 'WHY NOT?'"

The new Studio City Ink salon is superbly located next to the Coach & Horses Pub in Maghull right by the pedestrian crossing lights which has been great for passing interest. 

Reflecting on how far she has come so far Sophie said "My own business progress is really good and with the additional business development skills that the Alt Valley Advisors are now giving me, I’m sure I can do really well. I can’t thank the Enterprise Hub Project enough for their support and encouragement.”

For more information on Enterprise Hub please contact either the central Enterprise Hub Team on 0151 706 8113 or get in touch with Kayleigh Clarke at Alt Valley Community Trust on 0151 546 5514.

“Nu:Move” into Business for Mike Roxburgh with help from Alt Valley

Mike Roxburgh first approached AVCT in January 2016 for business start-up advice, having been recommended by a work colleague. At the time Mike was employed and was looking for a career change.

Mike had already had the idea of acquiring an online real estate agency franchise, but without any previous business ownership experience Mike really needed the essential business start-up knowledge and skills to enable him to launch the business. He signed up to the ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) funded Enterprise Hub Project with Alt Valley Community Trust. 

“I had already decided to go down the self-employment option”, says Mike, “but I had never been self-employed before and I needed some pointers to help me get off the ground. I attended sessions at the Alt Valley Community Trust which benefited me enormously.”

Mike added “I also decided to launch a complementary company, MJR Property Management. There were two main reasons for this. Firstly, Nu:Move Liverpool’s services to landlords end at the point of letting. Secondly, ever increasing legislation is being introduced to regulate the private sector letting”

The business start-up workshop that Mike attended at the beginning of the Enterprise Hub programme provided information on setting the business up, business planning, marketing & sales, financing, taxation and keeping information records. The additional support that Mike accessed concentrated on developing essential marketing and selling skills including research, branding, social media, website optimisation and customer management; these sessions were led by the Enterprise Hub advisors John Mathias, Ian Marshall and Roy Meredith.

Mike added “The advice I received from several highly experienced business advisors at Alt Valley was really helpful and really made a difference when I was setting things up. I never felt alone and always had a friendly face or voice at the other end of the line. Just the opportunity to sit down and bounce ideas or thoughts off someone who understood exactly where I was coming from and understood the concerns and anxieties I had was of huge assistance alone.”

Mike’s online Estate Agency Nu-Move Liverpool and his property management company commenced trading on 6th April 2016 and are already showing very promising signs of early success. In the first 6 weeks of trading the companies have sold and let a number of properties across Liverpool with one recent property in the Huyton area being sold subject to contract in just 5 days. There are also a growing number of private tenancy management properties being added to the portfolio with a possible expansion planned as far as Blackpool.

For more information about the Enterprise Hub project and how AVCT can help you; please call the team on 0151 546 5514.

Enterprise Hub Start Up Conference is a Great Success

This blog has been written for us by a great new member of our team; Sam Millne, who is joining us this week for work experience…
           On 13^th July, 2016, here at 54 St. James Street, we held an Enterprise Hub Business Start-up Conference. There were many pastries and drinks laid out for the guests as we welcomed them in to the conference room. Many of them were very impressed with 54 St James Street and it’s views with comments such as ‘you’ve got some views here!’ and ‘I’m really impressed by the building’ were being dropped. 

At the beginning of the conference, the attendees were given 20 minutes to network and get to know each other. One guest said’ it’s great to be able to network so easily’. Our sponsor’s representative, Nick Bell from Start Up Direct, came and told us about Start Up Direct’s loan scheme for businesses. Start Up Direct is a delivery partner of the Governments Start Up Loans Scheme that provides up to £25,000 in start-up funding for entrepreneurs wanting to start a business.

Next we heard from Tom Rogers who left his secure teaching role-as a history teacher-uncertain of his future, to set up his own business. He’s set up Rogers History, a business which uses the internet to tutor teachers and students. He has his own website and is currently supply teaching as well. Tom gave an interesting, animated speech in which he was greatly informative to all of our guests as to what he had experienced in setting up his business and how he wants to take his business forwards. Shortly after the conclusion of Tom’s speech the conference took a fifteen minute break to socialize and enjoy the wonderful sights of the city, from our fourth floor terraces.

Once the conference had reconvened we heard from another business owner, Jenn Appleton. Jenn is the owner and an instructor at Kumon Woolton, which is part of a franchise that provides study programmes for maths and English, in order to build children’s confidence and inspire a passion for learning. Jenn went on to tell us how life changing experiences forced her to take action and remember how life’s too short so she must seize the opportunity to do something she loves. A guest said that it was good ‘hearing the experiences of other business start ups’.

Once Jenn’s inspiring talk had concluded, all the guests introduced themselves to the group, showing bravery, which is needed to be self-employed. There was a range of different backgrounds, but there was an underlying theme of an education background showing through, perhaps highlighting the stress that the teaching industry is undertaking and the urge many teachers feel to have more freedom and get out of teaching.

Soon after, the guest came up with a list of pros and cons of being self-employed. Some examples of cons were that you need to be self-disciplined and flexible. However on the other side of the argument there were ideas mentioned such as having higher aspirations and more freedom to experiment with ideas. There were positives thoughts on the pros and cons exercise with one attendee saying ‘it was a good exercise to make more aware of what you’re buying into’.

In conclusion, the conference was a success and it opened many people’s eyes to the world of starting your own business. The guests gave their thoughts and said ‘it was very informative’, ‘inspiring’ and ‘useful for someone looking for a starting point’. Many of the attendees are going to continue to pursue their dream of owning their own successful business. 

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

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Enterprise Hub is part funded by

Enterprise Hub invite Budding Entrepreneurs to a 'Business Start-Up Conference'

Last week the new business start-up programme for Liverpool City Region ‘Enterprise Hub’ was declared ‘open for business’ as it launched at The City of Liverpool College, and is kicking off in style with the ‘Enterprise Hub Business Start-up Conference’.

Part funded by European Regional Development Fund, the Hub will provide support to over 6,000 residents of Sefton, Knowsley, Liverpool, St Helens, Wirral and Halton over the next three years. The programme will help local residents to assess their business ideas, develop a business plan, understand their tax and national insurance liabilities, create an innovative marketing plan and access finance to get started.

The first major event of the Enterprise Hub calendar following the launch comes to Liverpool on 13^th July in the form of a Business Start-up conference.  The conference run in partnership between Enterprise Hub partner The Women’s Organisation and Start-up Direct will offer men and women from Liverpool City Region opportunity to find out about how they can benefit from the free support on offer.  Local entrepreneurs who are already running their business will share their experiences of getting started and advice on things to think about along the way.  Those attending will also be given opportunity to join in workshop style activities to understand the practicalities of self-employment and will discover how to work with enterprise hub to move their ideas forward.

Nick Bell, Startup Direct North West Regional Development Manager said “Startup Direct Liverpool are very pleased to sponsor the Enterprise Hub Start-up Conference. As a leading delivery partner for the UK government’s Start Up Loans Scheme we have already helped more than 1,500 UK businesses access more than £12M of funding. The Enterprise Hub will provide the tools and support for even more local entrepreneurs to launch or expand their business and our new Liverpool office is ready to help them access funding. Talk to us via the Enterprise Hub or visit www.startupdirect.org.”

The Enterprise Hub Business Start-up conference will run 10am-1pm at 54 St James Street in the Baltic Triangle. If you would like to book on the conference CLICK HERE to reserve your ticket. 

For more information about enterprise hub please contact Enterprisehub@thewo.org.uk or 0151 706 8113.

Enterprise Hub has Launched!

Thousands of budding entrepreneurs are set to benefit from a new European-funded Enterprise Hub that is aiming to help fledgling businesses get off the ground across the Liverpool City Region.

Maggie O'Carrol, Julia Sweeney & Elaine Bowker 

With a mission to support more than 6000 people who are considering setting up their own enterprises and, in the process, help 1,200 businesses to start-up, the Liverpool City Region Enterprise Hub officially launched on 30^th June at The City of Liverpool College.

The Hub will provide support to residents of Sefton, Knowsley, Liverpool, St Helens, Wirral and Halton over the next three years. Business start-up services on offer via the Hub will be delivered by a network of ten partner organisations; The Women’s Organisation, St Helens Chamber, Liverpool JMU, Granby Toxteth Development Trust, Everton Development Trust, Alt Valley Community Trust, The Prince's Trust, Merseyside Expanding Horizons, SAFE Regeneration and Franchising Works while CEO & Principal of City of Liverpool College Elaine Bowker referenced the importance of ensuring the region has the right skills provision to sustain businesses. 

Around 200 influencers from the Liverpool City Region joined the Enterprise Hub partners to launch the project, including some of the region’s leading accountants and legal advisers, who specialise in start-up advice, along with local councillors and support services. Keynote speaker at the event Julia Sweeney, Director, European Programmes & Local Growth Delivery DCLG emphasised the importance of investing in enterprise to sustain our economny. CEO of The Women's Organisation Maggie O'Carroll declared the Liverpool City Region "Open for Business".

Enterprise Hub which will be part funded by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is being led by The City of Liverpool College, its accountable body, with The Women’s Organisation operating as managing agent for the programme.  The initiative is being supported by 5 local strategic partners who will be supporting the programme’s engagement strategy, ensuring Enterprise Hub delivery teams are connecting with diverse communities.  These include: The City of Liverpool College, Liverpool Central Library and IP Centre, Liverpool Mutual Homes, Merseycare NHS Trust and Plus Dane Housing.

As part of its involvement with the programme, The City of Liverpool College will connect its own students to the Enterprise Hub, enabling them to access pre- startup and start up advice and support.

Elaine Bowker, Principal and Chief Executive of The City of Liverpool College said, “Start-up businesses are an essential economic driver for the region and a vibrant entrepreneurial sector is a key indicator of a healthy regional economy. We have long supported future entrepreneurs at The City of Liverpool College, delivering a range of business course that equip students with the skills required to run successful enterprises of their own. We already work in partnership with The Women’s Organisation to offer student enterprise services, where students with business ideas can access support and advice to set up their own companies. Leading the Enterprise Hub programme was, therefore, an obvious choice for us and we are hugely excited about the potential it has to help bring thousands of innovative business plans to fruition. By linking our students to the programme we will channel a pipeline of Further Education graduates into the Enterprise Hub, ensuring that this valuable source of entrepreneurial talent is not missed.”

 CEO of The Women’s Organisation Maggie O’Carroll said:

“We are thrilled to be helping to steer forward this exciting new enterprise initiative for Liverpool City Region. The creation of new businesses is vital to keep our local and national economy afloat. We hope Enterprise Hub evidences how investment in enterprise services can reduce unemployment, raise aspirations and give people a chance to pursue their dream of business ownership with expert and strategic support. The Enterprise Hub partnership brings together organisations with a variety of expertise ensuring that those interested in getting advice can link with experts who can offer them quality services.  We urge anyone who has an idea for a business to get in touch and let Enterprise Hub guide you to getting started.”

Anyone interested in taking up support from Enterprise Hub should contact 0151 706 8113 or Enterprisehub@thewo.org.uk