A group of start-up entrepreneurs have just graduated from the Inspiring Enterprise course as part of a free business programme set up to help people gain entrepreneurial skills and commercialise their business ideas. The course was run by the Eastern Enterprise Hub (EE Hub) in Colchester in conjunction with the Essex Innovation Programme (EIP) who funded the project.
“This course is giving people the opportunity to do things they want to do. The graduates come away with a peer network of entrepreneurs as well as a business support network which includes the Essex Innovation Programme, banks and other organisations to help entrepreneurs set up in business.”
Digby Chacksfield, CEO, the Eastern Enterprise Hub
Graduating With A View To Setting Up A Business In Essex
The Inspiring Enterprise course enables entrepreneurs to develop everything they need to know about running their own enterprise. The 15 graduates this year were from a diverse range of businesses including an online video directory, an African Caribbean food delivery service and psychology programmes for at-risk young people. The course’s success rate is high with over half the graduates already trading.
"The best thing about the programme is all the support and knowledge and meeting all the other people on the programme and seeing their progress as well."
Jane Lines and Sandra Augusti, The Business Video Portal
“This course has provided me with access to people and contacts I wouldn’t otherwise have had.”
Rachel Mower, Talefolk & P!NG Office
Inspiring Enterprise graduates 2016
As well as receiving expert business advice throughout the course, entrepreneurs were able to pitch for cash prizes (up to £2,000) to further develop their enterprise idea. The Inspiring Enterprise graduates were presented with their prizes and graduation certificates by Paul Dodson, Head of Commissioning Economic Growth, Essex County Council (ECC), David Rooke, Head of Enterprise & Economic Growth, ECC and Helen Quinnell, Enterprise Project Officer, the Essex Innovation Programme. The 2016 graduates were…
Adel Salah, AMIK Nutrition- Elizabeth Griffin, Be Blessed 925
- Eric Jenner, High Performance Adhesives and Coatings
- Esther Jaiyesimi, Tadeor Accountants
- Heidi Wall, Boutique Brownies
- Jane Lines & Sandra Augusti, Business Video Portal
- Johnoi Josephs, Fused Roots
- Katie Liggins, Kooky WoodWorks
- Kimberlee Warnes, Sweetpea Wholefoods CIC
- Lucy Ainger, Psychotherapist
- Marion Gordon, Ninth Planet Personnel
- Michelle Pritchard, Find Your Spark
- Ophelia Mills, Ophelia Mills Jewellery
- Rachel Mower, P!NG Office
“We are pleased to support this programme and watch the entrepreneurs grow and develop their businesses. Essex has always had a thriving population of entrepreneurs and it’s good to see this continue with Inspiring Enterprise.”
Helen Quinnell, Enterprise Project Officer, the Essex Innovation Programme
EE Hub Working With EIP
EIP worked with the EE Hub to reach entrepreneurs and provide training and support. EIP works with established companies and small businesses to help them to develop, and take to market, innovative products and services.
The EE Hub encourages individuals living in Essex to have an entrepreneurial mind-set, through a range of learning programmes.
“I am delighted that we were once again working with the Essex Innovation Programme to deliver another dynamic business programme, designed to help Essex-based individuals become more entrepreneurial and to start/run an enterprise.”
Digby Chacksfield, CEO, the EE Hub
About Inspiring Enterprise
Inspiring Enterprise is a highly practical course for entrepreneurs who want to launch and monetise their business idea. It enables people looking to develop a good understanding of setting up and running their own business.
Attendees go through a range of subjects and training sessions and hear from successful entrepreneurs as well as meeting and working with other aspiring/existing entrepreneurs, with the aim of gaining confidence as well as practical knowledge.
"The programme helped us to scale our business and forced us to be sensible and think more realistically about our business. Every week we focused on a different concept such as social media, accounting and financing. So the programme has forced me to deal with issues that I woudn't usually deal with."
Johnoi Josephs, Fused Roots
For information about the next Inspiring Enterprise course see here.
See here for more information on the Essex Innovation Programme.
