ASPIRING entrepreneurs in the borough are being given a helping hand thanks to the GENESIS and SmartStart support programmes delivered by Barnsley Business and Innovation Centre (BBIC).
Businesses in the borough are beginning to reap the benefits of self-employment thanks to these programmes, which offer free business mentoring and support to both pre-start up and early stage businesses based in Barnsley.
Those joining the SmartStart programme benefit from an initial session with a specialist start up coach, access to free workshops covering business skills such as marketing and finance and a one to one session to draw up a next step action plan.
The GENESIS programme is the next stage for would-be entrepreneurs, providing intensive support to new businesses identified as having high growth potential.
Since launching 18 months ago Smartstart has assisted 600 business enquiries and BBIC has seen over 350 start-up businesses at the open days - 130 of which have commenced trading in Barnsley.
James Herbert, special project manager at BBIC, said: "As the UK emerges from the economic uncertainty of the past few years, more people than ever are considering setting up their own business. At BBIC, we want to make sure those people receive the pragmatic business support they need to be successful and the results speak for themselves.
"Our programmes are designed to complement the existing support on offer through Enterprising Barnsley and help bring additional prosperity and jobs to the borough. We're looking forward to meeting lots more budding businesses at our open day in June and helping them to realise their ambitions."
Anyone thinking of setting up their own business, or who has recently started one, is invited to the open day at the BBIC centre on June 10 at Wilthorpe Road, Barnsley.
Business advisors will be available to listen to ideas, carry out a business diagnostic and explain more about the free Barnsley start-up programmes on offer.
For more information, visit www.barnsleystartup.co.uk.
