Range of support available for people considering starting their own business.

"Many people are sure to consider starting their own business this year...our support is designed to help them create new small businesses that thrive and benefit the communities and economy beyond the pandemic and far into the future."

A broad range of expert support and advice is available to the expected surge of people considering starting up their own business in 2021.

It is predicted that this year will see many individuals, in the wake of redundancy or continuing uncertainty in various sectors, decide to start up on their own.

Whatever the nature or sector of the planned business, bespoke expert guidance is available from Warwickshire County Council and its partners. They have long delivered a broad range of support to help people take that first step and are ready to help with the predicted rush of interest this year in every way they can.

Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce delivers a Start Up programme which supports both to those planning to start a business and those who have already taken the plunge and are in the very early days.  Support is available on a 1-2-1 mentoring basis and also in the form of workshops.  These include a regular Thinking of Starting a Business workshop - a three-hour zoom session to help think ideas through and consider the practical next steps.

The programme is funded by the European Regional Development Fund, Warwickshire County Council and the five District and Borough Councils in the county. For more information, please visit here.

Starting up on your own is a huge step and there is much to think about before making that step. Those who are at this very early stage, just 'thinking about it', can benefit from the Jumpstart programme.

Funded by Coventry and Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust and Warwickshire County Council, Jumpstart runs a series of workshops (virtually, during lockdown) which explores all aspects of starting up - planning, cashflow, social media etc - to help individuals thoroughly think through their business idea. For more information on Jumpstart, please visit here

Warwickshire County Council's Business Growth & Support Programme Manager, Gillian Dale, said: "This is a difficult and challenging time for so many people as their circumstances change, but WCC and our partners are here to support the businesses community every step of the way.

"Many people are sure to consider starting their own business this year so, in that way, this could also be time of a great opportunity. Our support is designed to help them seize that opportunity to create new small businesses that thrive and benefit the communities and economy beyond the pandemic and far into the future."

Residents within the Stratford District Council area can also access support from a free one-week Popup Business School from 15-19 February (a five-day online course, 10am-3pm).

The council's Venture House Business Centre has invited the PopUp Business School to run a Start and & Build a Business training event. The Popup specialises in helping people who are at a disadvantage or new to starting a business.

 Anne Solomon, Stratford District Council's Business Enterprise & Tourism Co-ordinator, said: "With so many of our residents currently considering new career paths, it stands to reason that a significant number will be considering self-employment.

"With our current business support programmes proving well subscribed and highly successful, we felt there was a need for additional and alternative support at this time…this is where the PopUp comes in. People are welcome to attend all or part of the event and may want to take a look at the daily schedule." For more information, please visit here.