New boot camp for Tyneside business starters
by WIN Admin — published in Press Releases
WOULD-BE Tyneside entrepreneurs are being asked to use their brain power to benefit from a special business boot camp.
Newcastle-based Enterprise Made Simple came up with the idea of running an intensive weekend where people with a potentially high-growth company could benefit from expert advice and support.
The free sessions, which have been organised with the financial support of the European Union’s ERDF Competitiveness Programme 2007-2013 and Newcastle City Council, will run over two weekends in November and competition for the limited places is expected to be fierce.
Andrea Clarke of EMS said the camps would offer a rare opportunity for business people to get a whole host of valuable advice and information over one weekend.
“People know all about boot camps but they usually associate them with physical activity,” said Andrea.
“This is much more about exercising the brain and giving them the opportunity to get advice and information, face challenges and take part in team-building exercises.”
The residential weekends will be held at the Calvert Trust’s outdoor activity centre at Kielder in Northumberland on November 19 and November 26, with places limited to 12 at each session.
The boot camps are aimed at start-up companies or organisations which are or will be VAT registered and employ staff and must be based in the Newcastle area.
“The camps are for people who have a desire to start their own business,” said Andrea. “It could be someone who is facing redundancy from a public sector job or someone with ambitious plans for a business.”
Those who are successful in their application will spend two nights and three days at Kielder, working with experienced business advisers in a mix of classroom-based and team building activities. All travel, accommodation and food will be included as part of the weekend and the hope is that these initial pilot projects will be rolled out to a wider area in the future.
“We believe this will be a really effective way for people to get the confidence and the help they need to move their business forward,” said Andrea.
John Musham, head of enterprise at Newcastle City Council, said: “New businesses, with the potential to grow, are crucial to the future prosperity of Newcastle and I would encourage anyone setting up in business to take advantage of this one-off opportunity.”
Anyone wanting further information or to apply for a place at the residential weekends is asked to contact Enterprise Made Simple on 0800 988 7122.
Source: Iain Laing, The Journal