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Outset Cornwall celebrates its 200th new entrepreneur!
17.02.10
A successful ERDF Convergence funded programme is already celebrating its double century of helping local people start up their own businesses. Outset Cornwall’s 200th entrepreneur signed up for the intensive start up-support programme early in February and is now well on the way to starting her business.
Viv Stanton, from Notnats, contacted Outset Cornwall for help in getting her business idea off the ground after hearing about it on Pirate FM. She says, “I am very creative and have a clear vision for what I what to achieve but I needed some support with the ‘business’ side of it. Accessing the skills and knowledge to develop my business idea locally has been invaluable. The Outset Cornwall programme is relaxed and interactive, and the support and from my peer group has been brilliant. I am passionate about skills sharing (which is part of what Notnats is all about), and the open and supportive nature of the sessions enables us all to share our skills and experiences with one another, enriching the learning experience.”
Viv, who trained and worked as a Home Economics teacher before designing, making and selling her own wedding dresses, will shortly be opening Notnats and putting all her new skills into practice, The business will offer tailor made recycled clothing, hats accessories and homeware, and she hopes to develop the business in the future to include workshops to share her skills with others.
Outset Cornwall offers a flexible, practical and completely free service providing personalised support, training and mentoring to Cornish people who have the drive and passion to take the leap into self-employment. Bev Hurley, the CEO of YTKO, is the driving force behind Outset Cornwall, and also founder of the national Enterprising Women network. She is delighted with the achievement, and especially proud of our Cornish entrepreneurs, “The success of the Outset Cornwall project in less than six months has been phenomenal. YTKO has built a great local team who know what Cornish people need to turn good business ideas into strong and sustainable enterprises.”
Martin Strutton, Managing Director of Lite Energy, completed the Outset Cornwall programme earlier this month and now successfully runs his energy efficient lighting consultancy. He says, “The Outset Cornwall programme has been excellent. Each workshop or coaching session I have attended has been of real value. I get great peer support and lots of networking opportunities. Now I have the skills and confidence I need to make a real success of my business.”
David Cross, an ex-Army medic has recently opened his Reiki-inspired social enterprise. David accessed the programme earlier this year, but had concerns that his disabilities might hinder him. “The Outset Cornwall team worked with me, tailoring the programme to suit my specific needs. And, being jobless for a while, and in my sixties, I was worried that I would struggle with the programme, but it was exactly what I needed, and really supportive.”
Carleen Keleman, Director of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Convergence Partnership Office, the funders of Outset Cornwall, is delighted to see the programme smash the 200 target. “This is one of a raft of Convergence investments aimed at supporting people and businesses and strengthening our economy. The 200 people supported by Outset Cornwall since September have been given access to the opportunity to realise their ambitions and start the journey in developing successful businesses.”
The Outset Cornwall programme welcomes enquiries from anyone in Cornwall who would like to find out more about the support available to develop and launch a business idea. Call now on 0800 91714 324, visit www.outsetcornwall.co.uk or email info@outsetcornwall.co.uk.
For further information:
Lucy Cox
YTKO Cornwall Marketing Manager
01872 613007 ext 153
07825 987766
Lucy.cox@ytko.com
Editor's notes:
YTKO is a successful, privately-owned company established in 1979, with a team of forty fantastic people in our headquarters in Cambridge and our regional offices in Truro, Leeds and Norwich.
For thirty years we’ve specialised in growing businesses, for new start-ups, micro businesses and SMEs, and for larger companies seeking expansion. We are the UK’s leading providers in supporting women’s enterprise, and other under-represented enterprise groups such as ethnic minorities, disabled people and the over 50’s.
Our Enterprising Women community now supports nearly 8000 women in business across all parts of the UK, and in 2009 was honoured to be chosen by the Government as one of three best practice programmes in the UK for supporting small businesses.
Outset Cornwall is funded by the ERDF Convergence Programme and the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA). It provides intensive start-up support, particularly to under-represented people and in deprived areas.
For more information, see http://www.ytko.com www.outsetcornwall.co.uk and www.enterprising-women.org
