Liz offers advice to help firms get smart
ANEW support service for new and growing businesses has been launched in Rochdale.
The Start Smart programme gives local residents wanting to start their own business, as well as businesses set up in the last three years, access to free advice from specially selected mentors.
Rochdale’s mentor, Liz Shaw, is a business advisor for People Plus, an employment support and training agency.
She also worked as a finance business manager for Lloyds for 15 years.
Liz will be offering support through workshops, events and one-to-one specialist advice on a range of issues, including how to turn an idea into a viable business, recruiting and managing staff, and how to market a business.
She said: “People Plus is delighted to be working on the Startsmart programme with Rochdale council to help residents of Rochdale start and grow successful businesses.
“I have a passion for helping people develop their ideas into successful, thriving businesses and we specialise in supporting people to explore and plan their businesses in a very informal and supportive way.
“We want to make it as easy as possible to get in touch, so we can arrange sessions in other parts of the borough and outside normal working hours. Simply get in touch and we can organise something.”
Sue Ayres, head of economic development at Rochdale council, said: “We really want to encourage new businesses because they bring vital jobs and investment into our borough, but it can be hard for people to know where to start.
“That’s why we’ve invested in the Business Growth Hub’s new Start Smart programme. To get advice from a business professional with many years’ experience will offer our enterprising residents a huge step up and could be the thing that makes their business a success.
“The advice will cover many different aspects of running a business and I would advise residents who want to set up or grow their business to get involved.”
Start Smart has been set up by the Business Growth Hub with support from the Greater Manchester councils,
For more information email info@businessgrowthhub.com or call 0161 359 3050.