Partner Article

Newcastle Entrepreneurs urged to spend Saturday Starting Up

Entrepreneurs are the ‘rock stars’ of the business world, according to a start-up expert and best-selling author set to visit Newcastle this Saturday.

Emma Jones, Enterprise Nation founder and StartUp Britainco-founder, says start-ups and micro businesses hold the key to turning around the flagging British economy. Her visit will be focused on helping city-based entrepreneurs to start and grow businesses.

The event will be held at City Library, Charles Avison Building, New Bridge Street West on Saturday July 27, at 9.30am to 3pm.

According to official labour market statistics, more than 14,500 people in Newcastle-upon-Tyne are creating their own value by working for themselves – that’s 6.6%.

Emma said: “I am seeing amazing stories about how people are turning something they love doing into a business that brings in money. There has never been a better time to start and if you think about it, it’s never been easier.

“You don’t need an office or a filing cabinet or any of the trappings that used to be associated with starting-up. You just need passion, an idea, commitment – and the confidence to get out there and do it.

“It’s taking the first step that is the biggest leap. That’s partly what StartUp Saturday is designed to help with.

“I want to see people who would like to take their passion, hobby, skill or who have spotted a gap in the market and want to know how to turn it into a great business in a day.

“StartUp Saturday delivers the confidence and tools people need to take the next step.”

Emma, who was awarded an MBE for services to enterprise in the Queen’s Jubilee Birthday Honours List, will be encouraging people in the city to turn a hobby or a passion into a money-spinning idea at City Library on July 27, the second event on a whistle-stop tour of the UK.

The start-up sector is in record growth. According to recent figures more than 484,000 people started up in the UK last year – almost ten per cent up on 2011. The number of young people involved in early stage entrepreneurial activity has doubled since 2010 and now more than 60% of new businesses are started at home with less than £1k funding.

Newcastle is already on the start-up map. Its Ignite 100 accelerator programme is already at full capacity with a thriving community of entrepreneurs, investors and developers working together.

“Entrepreneurship is exciting – and it’s catching! Once people recognise that they can do it and that it’s easier than they think, amazing things start to happen,” Emma added.

StartUp Saturday offers Newcastle’s entrepreneurs and companies within their first two years of trading all they need to know about starting and growing a business; from making sales to creating a website, managing finances and taking on extra help.

Emma’s visit is supported by world-leading accountancy support network the ICAEW and quick-thinking virtual office provider Penelope.

The ICAEW’s enterprise director Nigel Hastilow said: “We’re thrilled to be part of the first national tour of StartUp Saturday. We look forward to meeting the start-ups and providing them with expert financial guidance from our ICAEW chartered accountants who will be available on tour.”

Joanna Swash, director at Penelope, added: “We are thrilled to be supporting the StartUp Saturday initiative alongside Emma Jones and her team. Our partnership with Enterprise Nation is a great fit for Penelope as we are both dedicated to helping start-ups succeed and grow.

“We know how important it is to have quality advice and support in the early days of a new business. Starting and running your own business can be difficult, but working alongside great people makes all the difference.”

Start up Saturday will also be welcoming business advisers from Ready for Business, the business start-up support programme for the North East delivered by TEDCO.

Ready for Business offers intensive support through the initial ideas stage and set-up of a new venture with the dedicated help of an experienced business advisor. The programme is unique in its focus on helping new businesses navigate the often difficult road to obtaining private finance to obtain the capital to really thrive.

When Consett-based former RSPCA animal carer Sarah Liddell had her daughter Jessica, she made a significant decision. To spend more time with her five-year-old, she made plans to give up her day job with long hours and often harrowing animal abuse cases to contend with - and set up her own business.

While she was keen to make the most of her skills and experience of working with animals, Sarah also had a yearning to be her own boss.

She said: “I decided I wanted to spend more time with my daughter and have more control over my own working hours. Setting up a day care business for working dog owners struck me as a great idea. There are so many dog lovers who feel awful when they have to leave their pets alone in the house all day – not to mention the behavioural problems that often stem from doing this on a regular basis.

“I looked into the set-up costs and logistics and was determined to give it a go.”

Starting out lean and without borrowing any start-up cash, Sarah quickly established Daycare4Paws and got off to a flying start in June last year.

She hoped it would quickly impact on her work-life balance.

“I couldn’t have been more wrong,” Sarah said. “We had such a great response that we had customers pretty much from the word go! It was great. But initially, I couldn’t afford to employ anyone to help spread the load, so I was working all hours – which was not the idea at all!”

Now Sarah, who has a unit at the Derwentdale Industrial Estate in Blackhill, employs two part-time carers, has a full order book and is delighted with her decision to start a business.

“I knew it would be worthwhile and I’m delighted I persevered because now I can be in control of when I work and I’m really enjoying the work life balance – as well as the challenge of running a business.

“I love the fact that I can make it work for me and can build it at a pace that suits my lifestyle from now on in.”

To book a place on the event click here

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Enterprise Nation .