A survey from domain giant 123.Reg suggests that Brits are 10% more likely to start a new business in January - according to the survey around 10,000 new business websites were due to launch this month.
Aspiring Worcestershire entrepreneurs are encouraged to take the leap into their new business dreams this new year with the help of free workshops, expert support and match-funded grants from the Enterprising Worcestershire Project.
The Enterprising Worcestershire Project – which is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund – provides a valuable support network to people embarking on the early stages of setting up their own business.
Lynne Avery, Business Growth Programme Manager, commented:
“The start of a new year is a time when people take the opportunity to reflect upon the past year and look forward to what they would like to achieve in the coming year. If you’re thinking starting your own business or becoming self-employed, Enterprising Worcestershire can help by offering free support. Whether you have an idea or a fully-formed plan, our team of delivery partners and experienced advisors can support you to make your dream a reality. From setting up a business to running it, our informative workshops and 1-2- 1 support cover a wide range of topics. For eligible businesses, there is also a match-funded grant of up to ?1500 available,” she said.
In August 2017, Bromsgrove-based Studio B61 took advantage of support and match-funded assistance from Enterprising Worcestershire, which enabled it to purchase equipment, including drones, allowing it to expand into aerial photography for property clients.
“Both the mentoring and the funding gave us everything we needed to get going and get off to a flying start,” said Studio B61 co-director Sian Conway. “Our new equipment meant that we were able to work more efficiently, expand our service offering, and compete against some of the larger marketing agencies who have state of the art equipment.”
Having hit the ground running, Studio B61 has been able to bid for larger projects. The team now counts Severn Valley Railway and HMP Hewell among its clients and continues to work with design clients including Harris Lamb property consultants.