ALLERDALE businesses are providing one example of how a programme is helping budding entrepreneurs set up their own businesses.

The programme has been particularly successful for women who want to develop their own businesses, with 50% of the business start ups being female run companies. These include Allerdale businesses like Wendy Park at the Laundry Studio in Workington (pictured alongside), Sarah Robinson at Diamond Dayz Photography in Maryport and Karen Carter Jewellery designer at Firefrost Design in Keswick.

Enterprise week runs from 16th November and West Cumbria Development Agency (WCDA) is taking the opportunity to run a morning workshop on Tuesday 17th November at The Wave in Maryport from 9.30am - 1pm.

The event called “Start Right” is designed to give budding entrepreneurs the opportunity to see what is involved in starting and running their own businesses.

It is being presented by WCDA’s Business Advisor, Andy Barnard who said: “We want to make sure people in Allerdale are aware of the business start up support available on their doorstep and this is a perfect opportunity for them to meet some of the organisations that can help, such as WCDA, Ways into Successful Enterprise (WISE) and Barclays who are all on hand during the morning to answer questions.”

Enterprise and Contracts Manager Shelly Gambles runs the Linkstart programme for WCDA. She said: “This workshop is very much a half day taster session for our 6 day Linkstart programme. It gives people who are thinking about starting a business the opportunity to see just what is involved. We have had great successes with the Linkstart programme so far with a 74% survival rate for businesses which is far in excess of the national average. I would urge anyone thinking about self employment to come along to the event.”

Linkstart is currently delivered as part of the Intensive Start-Up Support Scheme (ISUS) funded by Regional and Local government. Since the programme began in 1995, WCDA has helped create over 880 businesses and 1450 jobs. Linkstart is available to anyone thinking of starting a business in Allerdale and WCDA’s team regularly runs free, six day workshops for anyone thinking of running their own business.

Businesses supported are diverse in type ranging from boat building, engineering and construction to garden maintenance, hairdressing, beauty salons and holiday cottages and many other sectors besides.

Anyone wishing to find out more about the Linkstart programme or wanting to attend the Start Right event on Tuesday 17th November at the Wave, Maryport should contact Louise Cowen, Business Support Officer on 01900 65656

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