BiG – Make it Your Business hosted an event to bring together some of our new local ‘budding’ business people with some of Sheffield’s established entrepreneurs at a special event held at Sorby House on the 25th February.
The event, organised by the BiG – Make it Your Business programme included presentations from entrepreneurs including Alex Gardner, from ‘Café Inside’ and Tim Lindley from the ‘Advanced Group’. Alex, who has set up and run several cafes, served up some food for thought to the aspiring entrepreneurs on why they should go into business and what they need to have be a success. Her message to people wanting to start a business was simple:
“If passion drives you, let reason hold the reins!”
The hugely successful event was attended by 34 pre-start businesses and over a third of those who attended said they would like to be matched up with ‘business buddies’.These are established entrepreneurs who can help and guide new entrepreneurs in facing the challenges of starting a business.
This was the first in a series of events designed to give pre-start businesses the confidence and motivation to move forward with their business plans.As well as presentations, guests at the event were given the opportunity to attend three valuable coaching sessions, hosted by Paul Beck, Jav Khan (both from the BiG – Make it Your Business Intensive Business Support Team) and Barry Bassnett (from the Savvy Partnership).They gave practical, helpful advice on topics such as business planning, pricing and e-commerce. Michele Mason (from Business & Education South Yorkshire) explains:
“This was a hugely successful event and one which could not have taken place without the support of local entrepreneurs. We are now matching up entrepreneurs with a number of the pre-start business people, which has proved very popular with helping other individuals to set up their own businesses.”
The Entrepreneurs Exchange is part of the BiG – Make it Your Business programme.This encourages local entrepreneurs to become business mentors to individuals, as part of the Entrepreneurs Exchange.The aim is for prestart businesses and young people in schools to get the chance to learn from those who have got the first hand experience of setting up and running their own business. Cecilia Shields, programme manager for BiG – Make it your business, explains:
“We are delighted with the success of this first event. The response was tremendous, with many pre-start businesses commenting on how much they have learnt and how they found the speakers very encouraging and motivating.”
If you are interested in setting up a business or would like further information on any aspect of the BiG project, contact the team on (0114) 213 6310,freephone 0800 043 55 22 or visit us at Sorby House, 42 Spital Hill, Sheffield, S4 7LG.
Website: http://www.thebigwebsite.org.uk/
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