College to help new enterprises SHINE
Positive news for Cornish businesses with the announcement of a brand new ESF project that will offer bespoke support to help new enterprises SHINE.
The new three-year project “ESF SHINE” (Skills Help for Individuals and New Enterprises), run by the Ofsted Outstanding Truro and Penwith College has begun operating with immediate effect, albeit in challenging circumstances due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The New Enterprise strand of the SHINE project will offer bespoke support for start-up businesses and those that have been established for less than three years.
Help is also available to anyone who is currently employed but in “in-work poverty” with the ambition of starting a new business.
Support takes the form of mentoring and guidance from a team of New Enterprise Advisors, all of whom have experience of establishing and running successful new businesses.
Entrepreneurs who join the project will start with a one-to-one meeting with their New Enterprise Advisor where they will start to create a business development plan and receive ongoing coaching and mentoring to help turn their plan into reality.
Workshops in a range of areas such as; finance, digital marketing, sales, project management and HR will also be available through the project as well as valuable networking opportunities.
The one-to-one meetings, coaching & mentoring and workshops available under this project will be delivered online while the UK’s social distancing measures remain in place amid COVID-19.
The project is headed up by Leisha Roberts, ESF SHINE Coordinator at Truro and Penwith College.
Leisha has extensive experience in starting multiple successful businesses including; holiday letting firms, a dental practice, pet products retailer, children’s clothing retailer an artisan gin retailer and many more.
Leisha commented: “The College is thrilled to be in a position to offer this level of support to new enterprises across Cornwall.
“These are very challenging times for the business community and I hope the announcement of the new project will encourage an increase in business start-ups when we come out the other side and offer some light at the end of the tunnel for young businesses who are already established”.
Entrepreneurs taking part in the project will also be entitled to 50% funding towards the cost of any course in the College’s extensive range of professional training. Training is designed to support continued business growth or career development and includes a range of areas such as; ILM leadership and management, finance and HR qualifications as well as sector specific training in fields such as; hospitality, health, social care & childcare, digital & IT, art & design and teaching & learning to name a few.
Anyone interested in receiving support from the project is invited to contact Ben Gillespie, New Enterprise Advisor on 01872 308106 or BENG@TRURO-PENWITH.AC.UK.
SHINE is funded by the European Social Fund as part of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Growth Programme.
