Matthew finds fertile ground at Centenary Business Centre

For a young person taking the bold step to start your own business, there are a few things which it is very helpful to have close by: good advisors, a solid support network, reliable suppliers.

Oh yes and customers. They come in handy too.

So when Matthew Rogers launched his computer sales and repair business he was delighted to find all of those, remarkably, under one roof - at the Centenary Business Centre in Hammond Close, Nuneaton.

Matthew created Milifuzz last spring when he decided to turn his computer expertise into his livelihood.

Armed with plenty of relevant qualifications and experience, and a small but crucial loan from the Prince's Trust, he was ready to go.

He just needed a base - and for that he didn't have to look far from his Attleborough home.

"The Centenary Business Centre is perfect," said 23-year-old Matthew.

"I started with literally nothing. But since I started up the business I haven't stopped - and a lot of the business has actually come from within the centre. Every company has computers!

"It's brilliant to have so many businesses close at hand - and not just in terms of picking up customers. We all benefit from each other here. I get all my labelling done by a guy over the road. Another one does all my shipping.

"And the staff here at the centre are brilliant. When you are just starting out in business there are so many things that you really need help with, like tax and all the paperwork, and the staff are always pleasant and always helpful. For the amount of knowledge they have, whatever they are paid, it's not enough!"

All that support is invaluable, of course. But you still need the right product or service to attract and keep customers. And the right skills to deliver them.

Matthew's skills, driven by a big work ethic, are well-honed.

"I did work experience at all sorts of companies," he said. "The best was at Barrs Hill School in, Coventry. That taught me a hell of a lot. The guys in network support there, Anthony and Alan, were brilliant and I learned so much, especially when we were troubleshooting. I picked up knowledge that I use every day now."

It is very early days, but Millifuzz has made a strong start in the fertile business ground of the Centenary Business Centre.

"It has gone very well so far," said Matthew. "In fact I'm already looking to move to a bigger unit - within the Centenary Centre, of course. Why would I want to leave here?"

For more information about Centenary Business Centre please visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/cbc