New ways to start your own business

WITH TV shows like Dragons’ Den and The Apprentice proving ever popular with viewers you might think there’s never been a better time for would-be entrepreneurs.

But while there are plenty of people out there who think they’ve got what it takes to run their own business, not all of them get to put their ideas to the test. Those struggling to get a bank loan or who don’t have any experience of running an organisation, can often feel as though they’re beaten before they’ve even started.

Yet it’s these kind of people that are being targeted by the Leeds-based Enterprise Foundation. The charity, launched in May by a group of successful entrepreneurs, set out to help those who in the past haven’t had the opportunity to start a business.

Michael Bursey, manager of the centre based in Headingley, says there is a need for this kind of support. “Business Link has disappeared now and in the past there were enterprise centres but they’ve all gone. So all you’re left with is various mentoring schemes and office space which most people can’t afford.”

The foundation offers fledgling businesses subsidised rents, as well as marketing tips and a mentor, to enable them to get their new ventures off the ground.

It targets different groups – including those under 30 and the over-50s, the unemployed, and disabled people, along with ex-service personnel and ex-offenders – who have a business idea but don’t know how to get started. “We’re trying to target people who maybe have a lot of skills, who perhaps left the armed services and are good at leadership and teamwork but haven’t had the opportunity to run a business before.”

There are seven organisations now based at the centre, ranging from a charity helping the families of injured service personnel, to an online radio betting station, and The Enterprise Foundation has since opened another centre in Birmingham.

Mr Bursey, who comes from an accountancy background, says he and his team help draw up business plans for people. “We give them the best chance of making their business a success which is quite a responsibility because these are people’s hopes and dreams and they have families to look after, so there’s a lot riding on it.”

People can either rent a desk or a small office and those who sign up also get free access to meeting rooms, expert advice and business workshops. “What we’re trying to do is create a community here that we can help but which also supports one another.”

The idea is that once they are established after a couple of years the new businesses will move out to make way for new start-ups.

Adam Douglas was one of the first tenants to move in. He runs Forgotten Heroes – a charity offering help to the families and carers of injured service personnel – with his wife Maria.

He served as a signaller in Kuwait during the Gulf War and was one of the first to be injured and now needs to use a wheelchair. He works for NHS Leeds, which is based in the same building, and dedicates his spare time to his charity. He offers training and information for forces carers and says he set up with The Enterprise Foundation because of the mentoring available and the low rents.

Adam believes his charity will help plug a gap in community care. “There is huge charitable support for injured servicemen returning home but nothing devoted to what I call the forgotten heroes – the families and carers.

“The aim of our charity is to address this and offer a single place for family and carers to find resources.”

He says the carers own needs often go unrecognised which can have a detrimental affect on the person they’re looking after.

“An injured person in a family isn’t the only one adjusting, coping and often struggling. If they need help, there are very obvious places to get it but for the family, there isn’t and this is what Forgotten Heroes is all about,” he says.

“If the carer is looked after, the care they give will be better and the person they look after will benefit.”

Among the latest tenants to sign up at the centre are John Burke and Jeff Teasdale, the brains behind Radio Bets – the UK’s first independent sports betting radio station.

They plan to present a daily horse racing show before branching out into other sports.

“It can be very difficult for young people to get their foot on the ladder in radio so we want to get people on board who are young and have that passion and give them an opportunity to present their programmes,” says John.

As well as the business support being offered they were impressed by The Enterprise Foundation’s ethos.

“They’re trying to create this shared community where you’ve got different people with different skills involved in different businesses, but who can all help each other, and I like that.”

Simon Buckden and his fiancée Louisa Rodriguez only set up Positive Action for PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) in June and within weeks they had moved into the centre.

“I wanted to be involved with a charity, to be ethical and The Enterprise Foundation offered both of these, alongside business help and support,” says Simon.

The organisation supports people suffering from PTSD by helping them find the services and treatment they need to cope.

Simon suffers from the condition himself, brought about by childhood trauma and then later after serving in the military, while Louisa describes herself as “the person living with the person who has PTSD”.

“Lots of people will have a form of PTSD, brought about by many things in their lives,” says Louisa, who has worked in the voluntary sector for the past six years.

They want to dispel the idea that it’s just a condition linked to the horrors of war.

“Anything traumatic which happens in our lives can leave us with PTSD, on a small or large scale. A car crash, the sudden and tragic death of someone, childbirth, abuse, neglect – they all could be factors which would contribute to it.”

As well as providing them with invaluable business knowledge, and affordable office space, she says the centre helps foster a sense of community among the tenants.

“The fact it’s a hub for other organisations with everyone linking together is great. It feels like there’s a partnership between us and The Enterprise Foundation and that we support each other.

“If someone comes in who Michael thinks will help us he’ll send them over, so you find you’re constantly learning from each other.”

Louisa and Simon have been busy building a network of contacts from their desk at the centre and are already looking to expand. “The people we speak to assume we’ve been going for years when in fact it’s only four months. But we’re now looking to take on some volunteers because there’s so much work,” she says.

“What’s good about this place is that we feel we can grow here, it’s not a case of once we take on some employees and get bigger that we have to find somewhere else.”

Louisa enjoys the communal spirit and believes more centres like this should be set up around the country.

“Even just coming in and seeing another friendly face helps. If you’re working from home it can be good because it saves costs but you can feel isolated and you don’t have the same interaction with people.

“That’s what this place offers, it’s not just an office space it’s a supportive environment that attracts charities and social enterprises. I think every city could benefit from something like this.

“It encourages people to set up a business, or organisation, and that’s what struggling economies need, they need more people to go out there and be a bit entrepreneurial because that’s what helps the economy get back on its feet.”

For more information about The Enterprise Foundation visit www.enterprisefoundation.net