There is a wide range of support available for people who want to work for themselves. Whether you have a seed of an idea or a comprehensive business plan, Cornwall Works can help you to take the next step towards working for yourself by bringing Cornwall’s business start-up support together in one place.
Enterprise Clubs provide informal settings where people interested in starting a business can come together to share and discuss ideas, access help and information and build support networks. Anyone can join an enterprise club. Help is also available to start up new clubs in areas where a need for this type of informal networking support is identified. For details of current clubs in Cornwall click here.
Information is available here if you are interested in starting an Enterprise Club. For further information on start-up costs for clubs contact mike.dann@jobcentreplus.gsi.gov.uk
Start Up Loans - 18-23 year olds: StartUp Loans is a government backed project and, in lending up to £2,500 to any young person wanting to start a business, we fully expect it to turbo charge youth enterprise in the UK! http://www.startupbritain.org/loans
Ignite 2012: This competition is on the hunt for Cornwall's entrepreneurs and thinkers, who not only have good ideas but also have the vision and commitment to make them happen. This is a prestigious Cornish competition and is for all the entrepreneurs out there - or anyone who’s got a nugget of a business idea that they want to launch. The prize fund is £100,000 including cash and access to professional services, including coaching & support. www.ignitecornwall.com
Outset Cornwall: "Can I start and run my own business? Is my idea good enough? Do I have the right skills? How will I afford it? Where do I start?" Just some of the many questions you will find an answer to through this upbeat business start-up programme that works alongside people who have an ambition to be their own boss. Visit www.outsetcornwall.co.uk or call freephone 0800 917 4324 to find out more.
Cornwall School for Social Entrepreneurs provides tailored support and learning for people who have innovative ideas for community benefit. As part of a national network of Schools for Social Entrepreneurs, Cornwall SSE was the seventh in the UK and the first in the South West. Courses at the Cornwall SSE are open to people of any age and background and formal qualifications are not needed. The School helps entrepreneurs to realise their goals through an innovative “action learning” based programme that includes expert witness sessions, coaching and mentoring, motivation and confidence building combined with business start-up and a range of other individual support. For more information on how to get help contact sally.heard@cornwalldevelopmentcompany.co.uk
Click here to read about businesses set up through the Cornwall School for Social Entrepreneurs, by their first, second, or third year of graduates.
Enterprise Facilitation is a community-based, volunteer-run group dedicated to supporting and encouraging economic growth in West Cornwall. Offering a free and confidential business coaching service Enterprise Facilitation maintains that the entrepreneur should only work in the business area that they are passionate about. A resource panel from the community supports the Entrepreneur. The approach is different in that the Entrepreneur recognises that resources exist in their community and networks to help them and build their business. The role of the Facilitators is to help find those resources. Click here to read Cornwall Development Company’s ‘About Enterprise Facilitation’ document. For further information contact Rubina Khan at Rubina.khan@cornwalldevelopmentcompany.co.uk or call 07530 262423.
You can view Enterprise Facilitation case studies here.
New Enterprise Allowance is for people who have been claiming Jobseekers Allowance for at least 6 months and want to start their own business, where it can be identified that the new business has growth potential. The package of provision consists of help from a business advisor and support from a mentor to develop a business plan, access to a loan of up to £1,000 for start-up costs and an allowance for the first 6 months of trading of approximately £65 per week for the first 13 weeks and £33 per week for the second 13 weeks. Access to the programme is through Jobcentre Plus advisers only. The programme covers the whole of Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and is led by West Devon Business Information Point (BIP) working in partnership with organisations across Cornwall and Devon.
Unlocking Cornish Potential Graduate Start-Up Programme: Do you have a great business idea? Don’t leave it as just another great idea. Unlocking Cornish Potential (UCP) can help you grow it into a successful reality. UCP knows all about good business – they’ve been helping Cornish businesses strengthen and grow for some time now. So it makes good sense to offer UCP resources and expertise to start-up businesses in Cornwall, to further boost entrepreneurialism and innovation in the region. Building on the success of the graduate placement scheme, UCP are now offering a similar level of support for start-up businesses. Click here to see what that support includes and who it can help.
Starting a High Growth Business : This programme helps potential entrepreneurs to start new businesses as well as helping entrepreneurs in start-up firms to further develop their businesses. Oxford Innovation’s team of experienced advisors provide practical, hands-on help with challenges like creating or developing a business plan, identifying new markets, developing new products and services, raising funding and building a team. For more information and to get involved visit: http://www.growcornwall.co.uk/
ReZolve Skills deliver business start-up advice for people who are not working as part of the Cornwall Works for Social Enterprise programme. 1-2-1 support to develop a business plan is available from a qualified business adviser and is delivered alongside personal development activities and other tailored support. Find out more by emailing info@rezolve.org.uk
Real Ideas Organisation: RIOs Create Your Future programme uses the creative industries as a springboard to help unemployed people develop their career potential whether employed or self-employed. If you are out of work and seeking to establish a business in the creative industries, RIO can give you the help and expertise you need. To find out more go their website at http://realideas.org/ or email info@realideas.org
Useful links for working for yourself:
Business Link offers advice and support on starting your own business.
HM Revenues and Customs tax help and advice for small businesses.
Enterprise UK is a charity that aims to give people the confidence and ambition to be enterprising.
Start-ups, a website full of resources and advice for starting your own business.
The Prince’s Trust Enterprise Program in the South West.
Co-Active gives business support to social enterprises and people thinking of starting one, throughout Devon and Cornwall.
Rise is a social enterprise organisation that promotes the interests of social enterprises.
