Enteprise programme reaches 1,500th job milestone

Ready for Business, the investment ready start-up programme that supports new enterprises across the UK, has delivered 1,500 new jobs nationwide since its launch 12 months ago with businesses in the North East playing their part in reaching the impressive milestone.

New venture Fastglass, based in Washington, is just one of the local businesses to have played a vital role in helping Ready for Business reach the milestone, already creating six new positions on the factory floor since it was established at the end of last year.

Fastglass, which makes and supplies glass for double glazing units to window companies, was launched earlier this year and in a short space of time has gone from strength to strength.

The Ready for Business start-up programme was launched following support from the Government’s Regional Growth Fund and Barclays to create 6,000 new businesses with 10,000 new jobs across the country. To date, 227 jobs have been created in the North East through Ready for Business with advisors helping new ventures apply for and receive over £310,000 in financing support since the programme start in 2012.

Fastglass founder, John Davies had previous experience of running his family business many years ago, but when he was made redundant from his role as an area manager with a furniture manufacturer, he decided the time was right to work for himself again. Despite being familiar with the basics of setting up and running his own business, John recognised a need for further support and attended a regional Get Ready for Business seminar where he found out more about the innovative programme and how it supports new business start ups in the region.

Ready for Business is delivered by the Cavendish Consortium, a partnership between some of England’s leading enterprise agencies together with National Enterprise Network; South Tyneside based TEDCO Business Support is responsible for Ready for Business in the North East.

The Ready for Business scheme aims to create 900 new jobs across the North East region. With a particular emphasis on making new enterprises investment ready, Ready for Business offers a rigorous support programme which takes would-be start-ups through every stage of setting up a business including developing an idea, through to business planning and financial forecasting.

John Davies said, “I was probably beyond what most people would consider as the initial start-up phase and had already put in place much of what was needed to establish Fastglass and I decided to attend a Ready for Business seminar to see what support might be out there for someone in my position.”

He continued, “After the seminar I was introduced to Emma Mitchell, TEDCO Business Support advisor for the Ready for Business programme and from our initial conversation it was very clear that she would be able to add great value to what I already had in place. Whilst I had covered off most of what I needed to get started, Emma was able to identify areas I needed to give more consideration to. She has helped me get a grant towards my rent and discount off my business rates – things that it turns out that I was entitled to but I wasn’t aware were available to me before speaking with her.”

In addition, Emma has also helped John explore apprenticeship schemes to help with his recruitment requirements and helped put in place the necessary health and safety measures needed for his business.

John Davies said, “Ready for Business is very different from almost every other start-up support programme that I have come across. It really does ensure that not only do you have everything in place to get your business off the ground, but the bespoke advice that they offer beyond the initial stages is extremely valuable and focuses your attention on how you are going to develop and grow your business and make it a sustainable enterprise. I am now looking at how I can build upon our already strong customer base and make Fastglass the supplier of choice with window companies throughout the region. “

Emma Mitchell, TEDCO Business Support advisor said, “Fastglass is already a real success story, with an impressive order book and team expansion very early on and is exactly the type of enterprise that Ready for Business was created to help; the programme is aimed at supporting individuals who have a clear commercial idea of how they want their business to grow in the future and is ideally placed to help them focus upon these objectives and take the necessary steps to achieve success. One of the key areas of support is around the business’ ability to increase employment opportunities in their area and the fact that so many enterprises have been able to create new jobs so soon after being established illustrates the particular need for such a programme.”

Kevin Horne, chairman of the Cavendish Consortium, whose members and partner organisations are responsible for the delivery of the Ready for Business programme in the regions said; “The success of Ready for Business demonstrates a clear demand for a start-up programme which helps entrepreneurs successfully launch their enterprises and continues to provide intensive and on-going support. Our network of experienced business advisers across the country has already helped a vast number of ventures – and there are many thousands more currently receiving tailored support – which has resulted in the creation of 1,500 new and much needed jobs.”

Caroline Pullich, Barclays Head of Business Bank for the North East said; “These seminars are just one example of how Barclays support businesses like Fastlglass. No matter where you are on your business journey our wide range of support is designed to offer help.