Ambitious start-up businesses and entrepreneurs across the South West who are looking to achieve a turnover of between £500,000 and £1 million pounds or more in their first three years of trading, are being invited to take part in a free High Growth Start Up workshop in February or March.

North Somerset Enterprise Agency, in partnership with Business West, has organised the workshops to run from 9.15 a.m. – 4.00 p.m, on Tuesday 21 February and Thursday 29 March at its offices in Oldmixon Crescent, Weston-super-Mare.

The workshops are part of three high growth business services – Starting a High Growth Business, Coaching for High Growth and Understanding Finance for Business – being offered by the local business support organisations. The services are all funded by the European Regional Development Fund, so are free to participating businesses.

“Each of the services delivers one-to-one assistance through over 100 of the top independent business coaches in our region,” explains Angela Hicks, Chief Executive of North Somerset Enterprise Agency:

“Growth businesses can benefit from their extensive boardroom experience and a carefully planned combination of advice, workshops, business strategy and finance guidance, with support being long-term and tailored to the exact requirements of each participating business.”

To qualify, businesses will be starting up or less than a year old and have the right attitude or innovation such as a new product, service of concept to achieve fast growth.

Places for the February and March events can be booked by contacting Hazel Wintle on 01934 418118. More information about the growth services available can be found at www.growthsouthwest.co.uk

Starting or growing a business can be daunting, especially in uncertain economic times. However, the North Somerset economy has weathered the recent economic downturn better than many other areas, due to its broad economic base of over 8,500 small and medium enterprises (SME’s) and around 70 major employers (employing over 100 people or above). Unlike other local economies, North Somerset does not have an over reliance on any particular sector, which has proven to be a key advantage during and post the recession.

Although we remain in difficult economic times, with much talk of a slow economic recovery and fragile business confidence, North Somerset has seen a steady number of new businesses starting up. The Economic Development Service at North Somerset Council (NSC) and North Somerset Enterprise Agency (NSEA) work closely together to deliver a package of business support to help meet the needs of both new and growing businesses, with tailored programmes to help businesses start, survive and develop.

NSEA has over 20 years experience in helping business owners with every aspect of running their businesses. Angela Hicks, the agency’s Chief Executive, often sees businesses approach them when their problems have been ongoing for some time, which can make them more complex to overcome. The NSEA is there to help businesses avoid or minimise the problems they face, as well as develop and grow. NSEA offers businesses and budding entrepreneurs many types of support including:

• Free advice, coaching and mentoring
• Low-cost practical seminars
• Solutions to business problems
• Information about sources of business finance and
• Networking opportunities.

In addition to the support and advice available from NSEA, the Economic Development Service is dedicated to promoting economic growth in North Somerset through supporting local businesses, raising the profile of the area and encouraging inward investment. Services provided include:

• Assistance in locating land/premises
• Statistics and economic data on the local area
• Information on new commercial development opportunities
• Links to key departments within NSC as well as external agencies and networks
• Advice/assistance for new business start-ups (in partnership with NSEA)
• Employment support and
• Maintaining the business focused website www.innorthsomerset.co.uk

If you would like to know more about the business support available in North Somerset, please contact either:

1) The Economic Development Service (Simon Gregory or Jane Vivian) on 01934 426 266, business@n-somerset.gov.uk  or visit www.innorthsomerset.co.uk  or

2) NSEA on: 01934 418 118, info.weston@businesswest.co.uk or visit www.northsomersetenterpriseagency.co.uk

Debbie Fortune Estate Agents, based in Wrington, has won a free space at the North Somerset Business Show.

The company won the free exhibitor space at the next North Somerset Business Show by completing an on-line survey which asked respondents where in the region the business event should take place and, out of almost 100 respondents, Debbie Fortune were drawn out of the hat.

Principal Director of the firm Debbie Fortune said:“We could not be more pleased to attend this excellent event- particularly as prize winners. We are looking forward to meeting like-minded and proactive businesses in North Somerset and making lots of new friends and business contacts.”

A spokesperson for North Somerset Business show said:”We are delighted that a local company, that is still relatively new to North Somerset, has been given the opportunity to meet other, like-minded businesses.

“The event hosted 55 exhibitors in 2011 but, given the amount of interest already shown, we hope to double that number in 2012.

“The idea behind the survey was to ensure that we are catering for the needs of the North Somerset business community, and the results were interesting.

“The largest vote went to Weston-super-Mare and so that’s where we will be holding the event again in 2012. We had thought that Portishead would be second but, in fact, it was Clevedon and so we have committed to running the show there in 2013.”

The draw for the free exhibition space was made at the North Somerset Enterprise Agency. Area Manager Terry Gilbert said:”We are very pleased that the North Somerset Business Show 2012, and its location has been confirmed. It was a great success last year and is expected to double in size.

“It is very important for North Somerset businesses, both big and small, to showcase their products and meet new clients in this manner.

“We would also like to acknowledge the fact that the organisers have offered exhibition space to North Somerset Businesses at a very reduced rate.”

The event has been booked to take place on Wednesday 23rd May 2012 at The Winter Gardens, Weston-super-Mare.

Visitors to the show can get free entry by pre-registering on the web site: www.ns-bs.co.uk, where all the details for exhibitors can also be found.

Helping Hands team

A Weston-super-Mare business which was launched as a result of redundancy has entered its second year of business with a fast growing order book and an expanding list of popular services.

Helping Hands, run by husband and wife team Dominic and Ally Ife, frees up people’s time and makes their lives easier by taking over many of life’s chores. The business offers a huge range of services from gardening to spring cleaning, dog walking to errand running and form filling to accompanying people to hospital.

Having researched the business idea Dominic approached North Somerset Enterprise Agency, which supports start-up and businesses with free advice, information and low-cost training and soon found himself learning everything he needed to know to start his business from training courses and workshops. The agency also helped with networking, local advice and contacts and an open door for advice and help.

“Our services are only limited by our customers’ imagination – and of course legal, moral and ethical boundaries.” says Dominic. “If clients ask for a service that we don’t offer we will introduce it ourselves or find someone who can – there is very little that we can’t do. We even offer gift vouchers so that customers can treat their friends and family to the gift of some time off!”

Fees for services are charged either hourly or as a job rate, contract or package. Whilst having worked hard to make Helping Hands’ services affordable, Dominic admits that he’s been surprised by just how widespread the demand for the firms’ services has been.

“We originally thought that our services would appeal more to elderly people who needed help with practical jobs, but our customers come from all age groups, our youngest being a 13 year old who wanted us to hide her gift of a second-hand bike for her brother until Christmas Day! (Of course no charge was made for the service !)

“We might be watering a customer’s plants whilst they are on holiday and ensuring another customer receives their morning newspaper then an hour later we could be running a pet taxi service! There’s never a dull moment and although the business demands long hours and we have to be very flexible to fit around our customers’ needs, we love the variety.”

He credits the team at North Somerset Enterprise Agency with ensuring Helping Hands survived the early days. “We had access to all the help and support we needed and were always able to see an adviser when we wanted to. They also introduced us to a wealth of local contacts.” he says.

Terry Gilbert of the North Somerset Enterprise Agency says: “Helping Hands is a business that spotted a need and has worked hard to deliver a service that has something to offer almost everyone. It’s terrific to see them heading into their second year of enterprise with a growing reputation and demand.

“At a time when there is little job security, it’s inspiring to see how redundancy can be turned from a real blow into an opportunity for a new way of life. Running a business is hard work and isn’t for everyone, but as Dominic and Ally demonstrate it can be a life-changing and rewarding way forward.”

Helping Hands can be contacted on 01934 623068, mobile 07907 844078, via the website: www.helpinghandsweston.co.uk or by e-mailing info@helpinghandsweston.co.uk

For more information on the North Somerset Enterprise Agency visit: http://www.northsomersetenterpriseagency.co.uk/about-us/

Marketing Services Manager Sophie Priest

North Somerset based ASG Marketing, the specialist digital and direct marketing company, supported the recent North Somerset Enterprise Agency Charity Ball held at the Grand Pier on October 8 2011.

“We were delighted to get involved,” explains Marketing Services Manager Sophie Priest: “The event raises money for local charities and is match-funded by Santander Bank, so we were delighted to donate a new state-of-the-art website package that was auctioned off during the Charity Ball.”

ASG Marketing is the largest marketing agency in North Somerset and employs 20 staff from their offices in Weston-super-Mare. The company specialise in digital and direct marketing, from website design and email marketing to direct mail and design and print.

The direct mail division provides a service to local businesses that don’t have the time or resources to fold invoices, statements or mailshots and stuff envelopes. “Businesses can just provide us with the material to mail each week or month, or for mailshots our graphic design studio can produce really powerful mail-outs that generate lots of sales leads,” explains Sophie.

The company also employs a team of web designers and digital marketing experts who design websites with the aim of attracting more visitors and converting them into enquiries and sales leads.

Sophie comments: “Unfortunately many web designers are technical or graphic minded people who don’t really understand that a website is a tool that needs to generate business.”

ASG’s in-house digital marketing team has also developed Mailminx, an advanced email software system that manages email campaigns and customer e-newsletters. The team also manage their client’s online marketing and search engine optimisation (SEO).

For more information visit www.asgmarketing.co.uk and follow them on Twitter: www.twitter.com/asg_marketing