Kick-start your business idea with free advice, workshops and a grant from Enterprising Ashfield

Any big business starts off small, and for many aspiring entrepreneurs that begins with the seed of an idea, and nothing else.

Many people who want to start a business are at a loss as to what to do, where to go and who to speak to, to get their business off the ground. In a modern world of online and offline business that involves getting to grips with topics like marketing, grant funding, customer relationships and tax and National Insurance this can be daunting.

Thankfully Richard Ladipo, enterprise advisor at Enterprising Ashfield, is there to help with the HeadStart programme.

“I’m there to help people through the minefield of setting up a business. Whether they need to understand the marketplace and their competitors, the strength of their business idea, the legal requirements, the tax legislation or what funding may be available, we can help.”

Who is eligible?

Enterprising Ashfield is there for individuals resident within certain postcodes, primarily covering Kirkby-in-Ashfield and Sutton-in-Ashfield. You will also be eligible if you are resident outside of the area but intend to set your business up within the eligible post code areas. Other than that all you need to have is a business start-up idea, some idea of a target audience and the commitment to get started.

Is there a cost?

“The HeadStart programme is completely free and is part of Nottingham Trent University and funded by The Towns Fund, and developed in association with Ashfield District Council.

How can the HeadStart programme help me start a business ?

“The HeadStart programme allows people to fully investigate whether there’s a market for what they are offering, how much investment it would need to set up, and whether they have the skills and equipment to deliver on what they hope to do. People often come to us with absolutely no background in business at all, they just have an idea, and maybe a potential market they want to tap into, and want to explore it with someone knowledgeable.”

Andrew from Aileron Digital Works Ltd who recently set up his business through the programme said,

“I’d been thinking about starting a business for a while but kept putting it off for one reason or another including not really knowing quite where to start. The project gave me the chance to understand what I needed to plan and gave me great advice on how to complete my aims.”

There are three main elements available in HeadStart:

1-2-1 mentoring: Enterprise advisors can help people flesh out their business plan, develop ideas, identify and fix weaknesses and test its readiness for market.

Workshops: It could be you only need help in one or two – business topics for example tax returns or online marketing. Whatever your business need, there will be a free workshop that can help.

Grant funding: It can be difficult to get funding to a business, but for eligible candidates in Kirkby-in-Ashfield and Sutton-in-Ashfield there’s a £1000 grant available to get them started.

Richard added: “Enterprising Ashfield can also help signpost people to ongoing help, including potential funding from other sources.

“I’d strongly recommend anyone who has an idea they want to develop to get in touch for a friendly chat, then to take part in all the free help that’s available in the area.”

Ready to know more? Visit https://www.ntu.ac.uk/business-and-employers/financial-and-funded-support/enterprising-ashfield/headstart or email [email protected] for help.