Businesss Surgeries are Key to Success

8 May 2008

Budding entrepreneurs in Redcar & Cleveland communities are being offered the opportunity to benefit from free expert advice on their doorstep.

Enterprise coaches from Redcar & Cleveland Partnership’s Local Enterprise Growth Initiative Programme (LEGI) team and business support providers are reaching out to the communities as part of a pilot programme of surgeries.

Surgeries are scheduled on Wednesday 7th May at Loftus Development Trust, High Street Loftus, and Wednesday 14th May at South Bank Tomorrow, Golden Boy Green, South Bank, both from 10am to 4pm.

The pilot programme will offer enterprising residents in the Borough advice and encouragement on setting up their own businesses.

The concept of the surgery is to provide specialist information to those interested in becoming self-employed. It is open to new clients to gain awareness, information and practical advice in regard to self employment, and to those currently on the programme to access additional advice and support in their locality.

“Trial runs of the surgeries have previously proved beneficial to our LEGI clients,” said Rose Bailey, an Enterprise Coach on the LEGI team. “Providing a range of advisers on hand with a number of different backgrounds and expertise has armed clients with the information and practical knowledge to heighten their levels of motivation, and helped the decision making factors for choosing self employment.”

“Being able to offer this service to the community benefits the team by reaching people nearer to their doorstep, whilst making it easier for both new and existing budding entrepreneurs to utilise a local opportunity to access this facility.”

Each surgery will have representatives offering advice regarding marketing, promotion, financing, book-keeping, tax, I.T, accounting and life and personal development information. In addition, representatives from both the Citizens Advice Bureau and a local credit union will also be on hand. No appointments are required to attend the surgeries.

“The aim of this programme is to help people realise their dreams and see what can be achieved with the right support,” said Cllr Mark Hannon, Cabinet Member for Economic Development on Redcar & Cleveland Council. “I have every faith the sessions will provide an invaluable boost to the spirit of enterprise and entrepreneurship that we are working to foster in the Borough.”

For further information please contact Kelly Britton, Enterprise Assistant on the LEGI project team on 01642 495731.