PRIME business club

“As prospects for a comfortable retirement fade across the employment spectrum, more over-50s than ever are taking the self-employment route to making money. Jane Simms met some ‘Olderpreneurs’ to find out more”

This is from the January 2007 issue of the UK’s Director magazine, which has a long article on Olderpreneurs, including five case studies (and quotes from Laurie South of PRIME - which runs this site).

The article continues “While many of these so-called ‘Olderpreneurs’ have self-employment thrust upon them - as a result of redundancy for example - others consciously choose to go it alone, often fulfilling a long-held dream.”  

Tuesday 3rd April

Cantley Community Centre, Goodison Boulevard, Doncaster, DN4 6DF

12:30 to 6:30pm

Discover opportunities in self-employment, learning and work.

You are invited to a free drop-in event in Doncaster for people over 50.

Programme

For more information call PRIME on 0800 121 8321

Location map

Directions

Doncaster event - printable version

Elizabeth King, 51, and Vanessa Payne, 39, run a new car wash service in Cheshire. The business is based on Vanessa’s professional expertise in car valeting and Liz’s hands-on approach and willingness to learn something entirely new.

The two women were friends before deciding to run a business together. “We are both horsey and we actually met when I bought an Arab mare from Vanessa, who was then living in Cumbria,” explains Liz.

When Vanessa subsequently moved to Cheshire, the two women realised there was a potential business opportunity for them in the local area. Vanessa had several years’ experience in car valeting, while Liz had noticed the growth in car traffic and realised there was a gap in the market.

It has taken Liz and Vanessa almost two years to get their business up and running. Finding the right premises was a particular challenge. But they have now launched Arclid Car Wash, based in the village of Arclid, between Sandbach and Congleton, not far from the M6 motorway.

“We have done a lot of local research on valeting and car wash services and we are in a good spot here to capture trade,” says Liz. “We did start to look for premises nearly two years ago, and at one point we were waiting for some new units that looked promising. But then these premises [in a former garage] came up and they are better because we now have a workshop, with the pits, as well as offices and a waiting room area.”

While Vanessa has a professional background in car valeting, this is a new business area for Liz, whose main experience is in design.

Read the rest of this entry »

Are you aged between 50 and 65, retired or out of work and willing to be filmed making a bid to return to work? If so a BBC 2 programme scheduled to transmit in the Autumn is keen to hear from you.

PRIME is frequently approached by TV production companies with similar requests, so we’ve decided to put the more promising ones up here in the TV and awards category. It’s up to you whether to take part, but be aware that the TV company may be more concerned with producing a good TV programme than the well-being of you or your business. This is reality TV!So here is the request uncut.

In this exciting new four part series, we’ll be looking at 50-65 year olds who have decided they want to return to work. We’ll follow a retiree in their bid to break back into an industry in which they once worked. Pitted against them, and competing for the same job, in the same company, will be a fresh faced, twenty-something, looking for their first break. At the end of a one-month competitive probation period, only one will succeed – ideally being offered a full-time contract. We want to see if age and experience is worth more than youthful enthusiasm or vice versa?
 
Covering a different industry every week, from hairdressing to advertising, “Back in Business” will combine the drive and business acumen of The Apprentice with the warmth and humour of Young at Heart.
 
“In a survey of 300 employers, 80% said that they supported the idea of people working into their 60s but 75% had no employees aged over 60.” (source: Help the Aged). Many people find retirement unfulfilling and find themselves yearning for the routine and social interaction of the workplace. With new legislation and a changing attitude towards older workers, the Government is now trying to increase recruitment from the older employment market and encourage those nearing retirement age to work longer. To put it to the test we’re sending Grandad and Grandma back to work and at the end of the month we want to see who comes out on top – young gun or golden oldie?  

We are looking for retirees from advertising, hairdressing, fashion, fitness, property and tour operating who would like the chance to get back to the floor and prove that old doesn’t mean past it. We are also looking for young people desperate to break into these industries, who think they’ve got what it takes to give someone experienced a run for their money. 

If you think you know someone who would be ideal for this fantastic opportunity…or if it sounds like a challenge you would like to take on yourself, please call 0207 284 1441 or email stuartfroude@twentytwenty.tv
 

Alternative contact:

Chloe Huntly, email chloehuntly@twentytwenty.tv

Back in Business
Twenty Twenty Television
20 Kentish Town Road
London
NW1 9NX

www.twentytwenty.tv

Date: Thursday 8th February 2007. Venue: Fourways Inn, Chester Road, Delamere, Northwich, Cheshire CW8 2HB. Time: 6.00pm for 6.30pm start with a free buffet at 7.15 Location map

PRIME is setting up a Business Networking Club in Cheshire, with free membership for people aged 50 plus who are thinking of starting a business or already running a business of their own.

Through the club we can offer you opportunities to:

• Meet with other like-minded people to share knowledge and experience, discover new clients or sources of supply

• Hear from expert speakers on how to develop your business, by increasing sales, raising finance, using IT effectively or implementing new legislation etc

• Learn from the experience of others who have overcome barriers to set up successful businesses

• Find out about the range of help and support available for business development from PRIME and others in Cheshire

Join us at our launch event at: 6.00pm Registration for a prompt 6.30pm start with a free buffet at 7.15on Thursday 8th February, 2007 Fourways Inn, Chester Road, Delamere, Northwich CW8 2HB an informal and enjoyable few hours.

Feel free to this launch as a free networking event where you can meet with other existing and potential entrepreneurs, sources of information and even customers.

To find out more about the free advice and support available from PRIME in Cheshire for people over 50 contact

Andrew Bailey on 01270 628 621
or email prime@reaseheath.ac.uk

Wednesday 7th February 2007
Holiday Inn, Norwich, Ipswich Road, NR4 6EP 6:00pm to 9:00pm

Finding New Futures is a free workshop especially for older people considering setting up their own business. It explores the pros and cons of different routes in to business including taking up a franchise.

Please book early to ensure your place.

Freephone: 0800 121 8321 or email faye.banerjee@ace.org.uk

For a location map, please click here

164-FindingNewFuturesflyerfeb07.pdf

Tuesday 13th February 2007
All Saints Community Centre, Barnsley Road, South Kirkby, WF9 3QE 9:30am to 3:30pm

Over 50?
At a crossroads in life?
How about working for yourself?

Come to a free workshop run by PRIME.
Your day will consist of you learning more about yourself in a self-employment context. You will be given information on what help is available and where to get it. The day will also include practical sessions and useful group discussions.

For a location map click here

166-SouthKirkbyflyer.pdf
 

The Olderpreneur (www.olderpreneur.net), the group weblog for older people setting up their own businesses, is merging with PRIME Business Club. Both web sites are run by the UK charity PRIME (the Prince’s Initiative for Mature Enterprise).

The Olderpreneur uses hosting and technology provided by Crispynews.com, while PRIME Business Club is hosted on PRIME’s own web space and uses Open Source technology.

Because of a change of policy by Crispynews’ parent Kenlet the hosting arrangements for The Olderpreneur unfortunately have to come to an end, so we have decided to merge the content and function of the site with PRIME’s main support site for over 50s business people, www.primebusinessclub.com

PRIME would like to thank Kenlet for all its help so far. The Crispynews application allowed us to get a news site up and running fast and try out a number of innovative ways of collaborating with people visiting the site and PRIME partners.

However, Kenlet is itself a small start-up, and has found that its real market lies somewhere different to where it first expected.

This is quite common - many new businesses that PRIME comes across experience a similar thing. Although every business should start with a plan it’s also essential to learn from what actually happens and keep adjusting it. Kenlet is doing the right thing by reconfiguring its business based on what it has learned from its exploratory phase.

So we wish all at Kenlet every success as it moves in the direction of concentrating on customer feedback management for corporate customers and away from hosting more general community and news sites.

Meanwhile if you are over 50 and want to discuss business news and your own experiences and strategy you are at the right place. The Olderpreneur’s new home is www.primebusinessclub.com

Tuesday 20th February 2007
Tukes Cafe and conference centre, Grimsby DN32 0QE

11:00am to 4:00pm

Discover opportunities in self-employment, learning and work.

You are invited to a free drop-in event in Grimsby for people over 50.

For more information call PRIME on 0800 783 1904

Location map

165-GrimsbyflyerFeb07.pdf

grimsby50+programme.pdf

Due to the popularity of the previous quiz posted here, here’s another. This one asks whether you have the right personality traits to be an entrepreneur

It comes from the National Endowment for Financial Education in the US, which has some other useful stuff on the links from the quiz page.

If you are running a web site - or even just sending business emails, new rules require you to say who exactly you are. The sort of information required is similar to that already required for letterheads and invoices - full business address, registration number, VAT number etc., so the requirements are not too onerous. The rules apply to all limited companies and limited liability partnerships and came into effect on the 1st of January 2007.

More from law firm Pinsent Masons

When trying to convince a new client to go with your services resisting the urge to stretch the truth isn’t just the morally right thing to do, it’s the pragmatically right thing to do and is more likely to get you the job - or if you don’t, protect you from getting a job you’d much rather you’d never seen.

More from blogger Charles Green

Download and print out Ideas for Business, a free workbook from PRIME. It’s based on a successful series of live workshops we’ve been running around the county.

The workbook takes as its starting point your individual interests and experiences. After all, if you are over 50 you should have plenty to draw on.

You can download the workbook from here. Alternatively email prime@ace.org.uk or call on Freephone 0800 783 1904 and we’ll send you a paper copy.

HM Revenue & Customs Business Advice Open Day Wednesday 21 March 2007 Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street, Islington, London, N1 0QH Exhibition 9:00am - 4:30pm (tbc), Seminars 9:30am - 4:15pm

Professional Advice from the Experts Designed for small and medium sized businesses, HM Revenue & Customs Business Advice Open Days bring together the largest collection of government agencies, departments and public sector organisations under one roof. So you can find out about your legal obligations, learn about recent developments and gain endless help and advice in a relaxed and friendly environment.

Free Exhibitions During the day, a wide range of organisations will provide answers and advice from up to 48 stands in the main exhibition hall. Experts will be on hand to deal with practical issues, or you could stock on up leaflets and information.

Free Seminars A full programme of seminars takes place throughtout the day giving you a chance to hear more about recent developments and specific topics. Click on http://www.businessadviceday.co.uk/ for full information.

PRIME will be present to show how we help people over 50 to explore different ways of going into business and self-employment. Please click for a location map.

HM Revenue & Customs Business Advice Open Day

Thursday 15th February 2007
The Winchester Guildhall, The Broadway, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 9LJ.
Exhibition 9:00am - 4:30pm Seminars 9:15am - 4:00pm

Professional Advice from the Experts
Designed for small and medium sized businesses, HM Revenue & Customs Business Advice Open Days bring together the largest collection of government agencies, departments and public sector organisations under one roof. So you can find out about your legal obligations, learn about recent developments and gain endless help and advice in a relaxed and friendly environment.
Free Exhibitions
During the day, a wide range of organisations will provide answers and advice from up to 48 stands in the main exhibition hall. Experts will be on hand to deal with practical issues, or you could stock on up leaflets and information.
Free Seminars
A full programme of seminars takes place throughtout the day giving you a chance to hear more about recent developments and specific topics.

Click on the Website Link below for full information.

PRIME will be present to show how we help people over 50 to explore different ways of going into business and self-employment.

For a location map, please click here

Website Link: http://www.businessadviceday.co.uk/