Disabled entrepreneurs benefit from Business Link
The regional Business Link service is encouraging people with disabilities to consider starting up their own business.
After a life changing accident, one entrepreneur decided that running her own business would offer new opportunities and suit her lifestyle needs. Kez Tagg is Managing Director of East Midlands-based Close Encounters Travel, which specialises in creating personalised holidays, weddings and honeymoons in Southern and Eastern Africa. She says: “After being injured in a car crash and undergoing two years of spinal surgery I knew that finding employment would be very difficult so I had to re-evaluate my plans – I couldn’t continue with my Masters degree in social science so I took the positive step to set up my own business.”
Kez turned to the regional Business Link service, which gave her advice on marketing her own business and assistance with applying for a grant - help she describes as invaluable: “My local Business Link adviser provided excellent support and advice to help me raise the capital I needed to set up and run the business. Their input helped us to identify and secure a loan of £40,000, without which the business would never have got off the ground.”
Starting her own business was definitely the right decision for Kez as the company has gone from strength to strength, almost doubling turnover year-on-year since starting up. Kez says: “It’s been hard work but all the systems are pretty much up and running now and we have helped over 500 travellers to realise their dreams.
“While being disabled has been difficult it hasn’t held me back from doing what I wanted to do and becoming my own boss. Business Link has been a source of great help and support; I would definitely recommend other entrepreneurs – disabled or not – to contact them.”
The Business Link website provides business advice in a user-friendly accessible format for disabled businessmen and women. AA (Shaw Trust Web Accessibility Accreditation) approved, the site has the online resources and information to help businesses succeed.
Stephen Smith, chief executive of EMB Ltd – the organisation responsible for delivering the regional Business Link service says: “Having a disability shouldn’t hold you back. Business Link caters to all groups of society. We receive over 5,000 business enquiries a month and some of these are from people with a disability. Of course it can be more challenging being disabled, but we recognise that many other groups also face challenges – particularly during these difficult economic times, which is why our advisers don’t ever assume that ‘one size fits all’ but try and meet individual needs, which might include directing them to other providers of specialist products or services.”
The Business Link website www.businesslink.gov.uk/eastmidlands includes information for disabled entrepreneurs and employers including dealing with disability in the workplace, the latest relevant legislation and funding opportunities for entrepreneurs keen on starting up their own business.
Accessing the right support and training can make all the difference to the success of a new business. With the regional Business Link Start-Up service you will also benefit from FREE access to the following services:
- Web based information and tools
- Telephone and email support
- Self help material
- Structured workshops covering all the basic elements of starting a business
Business Link also run a series of FREE structured workshops in critical skills development for those looking to start their own business. The popular workshops are held throughout the East Midlands region and cover the core elements required to increase your chances of successfully starting your own business.
These workshops cover the core areas of business including:
Is it for me?
This workshop is aimed at people thinking of starting a business or working for themselves and covers what is involved in running a business and the various types of businesses that exist. It will help people decide what they want from their business and whether starting a business is right for them.
Getting the basics right
This workshop is for those people actively committed to starting a business and developing a business plan. The workshop covers various topics including employing people, compliance and business ideas.
Managing money
This workshop is for people fully committed to starting a business or running an early stage business (up to six months). Finance is the key to this workshop and it differentiates between the various types of finance. The workshop also looks at the subjects of financial planning, bookkeeping and cash flow and credit control.
Finding and keeping customers
This workshop is for people fully committed to starting a business or running an early stage business (up to six months).
It is important that anyone looking to start their own business understands their market i.e. what their customers want and who their competitors are. This workshop covers these important areas and also looks at how you could reach your customers, the positioning and price of your offer and how the internet could be a valuable sales tool.
Running a successful business
This workshop is for people fully committed to starting a business or running an early stage business (up to six months) and looks at a number of topics key to running a successful business. It covers how to employ people and getting the best out of them. Another important area for consideration is that of ensuring that your business has the right skill sets to develop and grow your business. Other topics covered include time management and understanding systems and processes.
For all the latest details on forthcoming local workshops, or how Business Link can help your business to start, grow and prosper, call 0845 058 6644 or visit www.businesslink.gov.uk/eastmidlands/thinkbusiness
Posted by: Business Link East Midlands
