Start smart roadshow comes to Rochdale

Growth Start Up Manager Janine Smith

The Business Growth Hub has partnered with NatWest to create the first Start Smart Roadshow, which is aimed at anyone looking to set up a business.

The roadshow will take place on board the NatWest Mobile Business School, which will be outside Rochdale Town Hall from 1.30pm – 4.30pm on 7 November with on-board advisors to help people who have just set up or who are looking to start up their own business. 

The support available will cover all aspects of setting up your own business – from accessing finance including Start Up Loans, legal issues and mentoring to advice on where to find further help on specific topics, workshops and master classes. 

Growth Start Up Manager Janine Smith said: “Rochdale is bursting with active and ambitious entrepreneurs and we want to show them just how much support is available to them.

"The bus will be touring the region with our expert advisors to answer any questions people may have about starting up their own business, from researching your idea and writing a business plan to where to go if you need additional finance to set the company up.

"Over 480,000 new businesses were started in the UK last year and there are many people who would love to follow that path and become their own boss.

"The Start Smart Roadshow is a great opportunity for them to find out more and take the first step to making that a reality.”

Heather Waters, Enterprise Manager at NatWest Business Banking, said: "The NatWest Mobile Business School provides information on the Bank’s social enterprise programme while also offering business expertise and support to the community-led organisations.

“Through the bus and our collaboration with the Business Growth Hub we can really illustrate how public and private companies are now working together to give small businesses the opportunities, expertise and support they deserve.

"We know that there are some great potential businesses and future entrepreneurs and employers in Rochdale and we look forward to welcoming them to the bus very soon."

The Start Smart Roadshow will also mark the launch of the Business Growth Hub’s Growth Start Up Support Programme, which is an intensive programme of support to take start ups from an initial concept or idea to a successful business.

The Start Up team work with entrepreneurs to develop the business, provide feedback on business plans and ideas and introduce them to additional support such as accessing finance or marketing expertise.

The Programme begins with an initial workshop called the Start Smart Workshop, which runs fortnightly across Greater Manchester. This workshop covers the basics of starting your own business such as researching the market, registering the business, identifying the best legal and tax positions, record keeping and cash flow forecasting.

If businesses are already beyond this level the team can provide one-to-one advice, from the very early stages through to providing advice and guidance once the business is launched.

The Programme also includes a range of master classes, which can be attended either before the business starts trading or once it is already established. These master classes are delivered by specialists in their field and cover areas including social and digital media, marketing and promotion, market research, understanding finance, networking and sales.