Applications are now open for the second annual Enterprising Worcestershire Summer Start-up Boot Camp, which gives local residents the chance to turn their business ideas in to reality.
The intensive programme covers all the basics of becoming a successful entrepreneur in just a handful of highly focussed workshops and activities.
It is part of the Enterprising Worcestershire programme, and is the result of a partnership between the University of Worcester and Worcestershire County Council. It is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
A team of industry experts, entrepreneurs and university lecturers will guide participants through the process of starting their own business, with workshops on everything from sales and marketing to finance and venture creation. In addition, participants will be granted access to the University of Worcester's business incubator facilities free of charge for the duration of the course.
This free event, which starts on Monday July 9th 2018, is open to anyone who has a Worcestershire postcode, is over 16, and has an idea that they would like to explore further that has not already been registered as a business with HMRC.
Anita Hill, Founder and Director of Comfyse Limited, who attended the boot camp in 2017, said: "I had the idea for Comfyse before I signed up for the boot camp, but the course gave me the opportunity to meet a lot of knowledgeable and friendly business people who helped me sharpen my idea and develop my thinking. I still use the network of contacts I developed on the course today."
Marie Jenkins successfully established her business, Advance Your Wellbeing, after attending the same course as Anita. "Business is all about people," she said. "On the boot camp I met a lot of great people who were able to help me develop my ideas and get a clearer understanding of what my business might look like. That kind of help from successful people - who have experienced it all themselves - is priceless."
The boot camp starts with a 4-day intensive programme, starting on July 9th, with follow up workshops over the summer.
Jo Murphy, who is the project lead for the initiative within the University of Worcester's Business School, said: "This year we have redesigned the Boot Camp to make it more accessible than ever. The sessions will be delivered on our Jenny Lind Campus which is in the centre of Worcester, within a stone's throw of all the major travel links. We are hoping to attract people from across the county. We are also starting the Boot Camp slightly later, on July 9th, so that anyone currently studying at college or who is sitting exams in the summer should have finished those in time to be able to attend."
"There are a lot of people out there who have great ideas, but they are not sure if they are business ideas," Jo added. "A good business idea is one that thinks about who the paying customers are; who are they, where are they, what do they need, and why do they need it. People who aren't sure can contact me and I'd be more than happy to discuss their ideas and the Boot Camp further."