A package of free, expert advice and support is available in Barrow for budding entrepreneurs and individuals considering a move to self-employment in 2024.
Helpful information on the practical elements of setting up and running a business will be covered to help give people the knowledge and confidence they need to get started.
A series of courses, which form part of the Brilliant Barrow Town Deal Business Support project and are delivered by Cumbria Business Growth Hub working with Cumbria LEP, will now be available during January, February and March.
They will help to equip those attending with the skills and confidence to set themselves up in business or to take the leap into self-employment.
Lesley Robinson, Head of Business Support at Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, said: “The new year is a time when people naturally start to think about the future, the changes they want to make and the goals they want to achieve.
“That’s why we are excited to offer the next set of courses within the Brilliant Barrow Business Support project to help remove any barriers that may be standing in the way of people realising their ambitions to become self-employed or start their own business.
“Barrow has long had innovative, inventive, hard-working people, brilliant businesses and a thriving supply chain economy. We hope people will take advantage of the courses on offer so that they can make 2024 the year they try something new.”
Topics covered during the sessions will include:
- the legal process involved in starting a business
- writing a business plan
- understanding and accessing finance
- marketing a new business
- record keeping
- sales forecasting and cash flow
- understanding tax.
A two-hour online workshop is aimed at anyone who is thinking of becoming self-employed. It will take place on:
- Tuesday 23 January between 9.30am and 11.30am.
The three-day courses are aimed at those interested in starting their own business. They will take place at The Forum, in Duke Street, Barrow, on the following starting dates:
- Wednesday 24 January
- Wednesday 31 January
- Wednesday 7 February
- Tuesday 12 March.
The courses will run between 9.30am and 1pm each day. Click here to book a place.
The Brilliant Barrow Business Support project will also see the launch of two new programmes before the end of March: "Become an entrepreneur by 25" and "Starting a business over 50". Further details on these courses will be released in the near future.
The Brilliant Barrow Town Deal secured £25 million from the Government’s Towns Fund to help transform the town for future generations.
The projects are being delivered by Westmorland and Furness Council alongside the University of Cumbria, Furness College, Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership and Natural England.
Councillor Jonathan Brook, the Leader of Westmorland and Furness Council and Deputy Chair of the Brilliant Barrow Board, said: "These courses are free and will give those who take part access to invaluable advice and support, so that they are in the best position possible to bring their plans to life.
“A strong local economy is one that is broad and varied and spans a wide range of sectors.
“We want to see a new and diverse range of businesses emerging in Barrow. This will help the whole area to thrive and grow towards a more prosperous future.”
For more information about courses available through the Brilliant Barrow Business and Enterprise project, please visit: Barrow Business and Enterprise Support Project - Cumbria Growth Hub.
Click here for more information about Brilliant Barrow.
On 27 July, 2019, the Prime Minister announced that the Towns Fund would support an initial 101 places across England to develop Town Deal proposals, to drive economic regeneration and deliver long-term economic and productivity growth.
A Town Deal is an agreement in principle between Government, the lead council (Westmorland and Furness Council) and the Town Deal Board (the Brilliant Barrow Town Deal Board). It sets out a vision and strategy for the town, and what each party agrees to do to achieve this vision.
Each of the 101 towns selected to work towards a Town Deal also received accelerated funding for investment in capital projects that would have an immediate impact and help places “build back better” in the wake of Covid-19.