NOW ENDED. Free business start-up support programme launched for Hertfordshire residents

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Free business start-up support programme launched for Hertfordshire residents

If you’ve always dreamt of having your own business, now could be the perfect opportunity to make a dream a reality as Hertfordshire residents can now access a free package of business advice and support.

Wenta, together with local business support organisations STANTA and Dacorum Borough Council have partnered together to deliver ‘The Hertfordshire Start-up Programme’, a business start-up support package funded through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). 

This programme, supported by Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, means that Hertfordshire residents looking to start their own business can now receive free business start-up advice and support in the form of workshops and networking opportunities, one-to-one advice (in person or online) and access to business start-up incubators which provide modern, flexible hot-desking facilities and an on-site business advisor to help guide you through each stage of the start-up process.

Those receiving support on The Hertfordshire Start-up Programme may also be eligible for a £1000 ‘Start-up Grant’ or a £3000 ‘Growth Escalator Grant’ – subject to eligibility requirements.

Workshops available to attend include ‘Ready, Set, Grow – start your new business’, ‘A Taste of Marketing’, ‘Website Development’, ‘Finance and Bookkeeping’ and ‘Social Media’. These interactive workshops are ideal for anyone setting up their own business.

The programme will run until the end of 2018. Between now and then it is envisaged that this support will help to start-up over 370 new businesses across Hertfordshire.

Jeremy Green, Project Manager of The Hertfordshire Start-up Programme at Wenta, said:
“The programme will deliver a comprehensive and fully inclusive start-up service consistently and collaboratively across the county with both face-to-face and online support via ‘live chat’ linked to the potential of grant funding to help start or grow the business.”

St Albans Enterprise Agency, STANTA, will be providing support to St Albans District residents. Commenting on this new programme, Mel Hilbrown, Executive Director at STANTA said: “STANTA will now be able to reach a much wider audience and provide more intense support and advice helping businesses to survive in the often difficult early stages of business start. With the best possible start, more of those businesses will reach the point where they can grow significantly.”

Those living in the borough of Dacorum will be able to access the support through Dacorum Borough Council.  Lesley Crisp, Maylands Business Centre Manager said:
“As a result of this new programme, Dacorum Borough Council will now be able to provide enhanced business start-up services to all local residents who want to consider running their own business, creating yet more growth and prosperity within the local economy.”

To register for The Hertfordshire Start-up Programme email [email protected] or call 01438 310 150.

For more information on the support available visit www.wenta.co.uk/hertsstartup