Aspiring entrepreneurs urged to pursue path into self-employment

Support organisation East Durham Business Service (EDBS) is encouraging people who have thought about starting their own business to give it a go in 2022.

Last year Peterlee-based EDBS supported record numbers of people to set up on their own, as the coronavirus pandemic gave them extra free time to think about whether self-employment could work for them.

Now, as the country continues to operate in a Covid-climate, the organisation is reminding people that help is available if they have an idea that they think could be turned into a viable business.

The support includes one-to-one introductory sessions, business planning workshops, and sessions themed around marketing and finance which give individuals a good starting point as they work towards becoming their own boss.

Hina Joshi is a business adviser at EDBS. She said: “In 2021 we helped dozens of people into self-employment with many of them seeing their new ventures grow during the course of the year.

“It’s so rewarding for people who have genuine aspirations to run their own business take the first steps towards setting up, and with our help there’s every chance they can make that business work.

“There is no time like the present to think about whether self-employment could be for you. It’s the start of a new year, when many of us are putting plans in place and targets for the coming months, so why not give us a call – that initial meeting could give you an idea if being your own boss is something that could work for you.”

Full details on the workshops EDBS is hosting can be found here: https://edbs.co.uk/edbs-workshops/

Hina added: “We have a proven track record of helping people launch successful businesses, many of whom go on to become tenants in Novus Business Centre once their venture is set up and established.

“Pretty much every successful business started with one person who had a vision – who’s to say that with the right guidance you couldn’t do the same.”

The new-start support offered by East Durham Business Service is through the Enterprise Support in the North East programme through the European Regional Development Fund.