PRIME business club

Article in the Daily Mail about wealthy women, concentrating on three who have made their money from business. While divorce settlements and death (of hubby) still account for most of Britains female millionaires, an increasing number are self-made business owners.

The BBC is looking for female entrepreneurs who’d be willing to undergo a complete image makeover on camera.

They have some slots specifically for women starting their own businesses - and they contacted PRIME because they’d really like some to be over 50. They might even be interested in male olderpreneurs.

So if you fit the bill go to the What Not To Wear web site and fill in the application form there, or email the show directly mentioning “entrepreneur” in the subject line. Or ring 020 8752 6044.

NOTE: If you’d like to participate but are scared off by Trinni and Sussannah have no fear - they are long gone. Singer Mica Paris and model Lisa Butcher now present the show.

The printed paper version of PRIME’s brief guide to Working Tax Credit for the 2007 to 2008 financial year is now available.

You can still download the guide from here as a PDF, but if you would prefer a paper copy just email us your details and we’ll post you a free copy.

We are also distributing the 20-page booklet free to libraries, enterprise agencies and advice shops - so if you are one of those just email us your requirement.

Working Tax Credit is a kind of reverse income tax that you should get if your household income falls below a certain level. PRIME’s guide is written especially for self-employed people over the age of 50. It explains the scheme in only 20 pages and contains worked examples showing how much self-employed people in different circumstances would get.

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Citizen’s Advice (formerly The Citizen’s Advice Bureau) is asking people for their experiences with Working Tax Credit. This is to enable the charity to lobby government more effectively for changes in the scheme.  Last year CABs across the UK dealt with more than 150,000 tax credit problems.

Citizens Advice is in fact a network of independent charities that help people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers. 

Wednesday 9th May 2007
Holiday Inn, Ipswich, London Road, IP2 0UA
6pm to 9pm

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

Printable Flyer

Location map

Friday 11th May 2007
Cantley Community Centre, Doncaster, DN4 6DF

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

This 6 hour workshop will help you to think about self employment as an option.
You will also think about the previous experiences and present skills you have that could be used to start working for yourself.

You will look at how utilising your skills and working for yourself could raise your lifestyle opportunities, and top up your pension.

Printable details

Location Map

The annual NatWest-sponsored Everywoman Awards are now in their fifth year, and are again seeking nominations. You need to have been going for more than 12 months to enter, and have a story to tell that will inspire other women. The closing date is the end of August.

There’s a separate “Hera” category for older business-starters sponsored by Coutts- read the stories of previous winners. 

Barclays Bank is running a programme of 19 free half-day business seminars around Britain, starting in late April 2007.

There are two types of seminar - about marketing and about improving profitability, both aimed at small businesses. More details on the relevant web pages on links above.

To book a place telephone Barclays on 0800 515 462 or 0845 601 0106.

Dates and locations

1. Lets Talk Bright Marketing, Pontypridd, 24th April 2007
2. Lets Talk Bright Marketing, Canary Wharf, London, 1st May
3. Lets Talk Bright Marketing, Milton Keynes, 2nd May
4. Lets Talk More Profit, Heathrow, 10th May
5. Lets Talk Bright Marketing, Taunton, 11th May
6. Lets Talk Bright Marketing, Truro, 16th May
7. ets Talk More Profit, Birmingham, 22nd May
8. Lets Talk Bright Marketing, Penrith, 23rd May
9. Lets Talk Bright Marketing, Oldham, Manchester, 24th May
10. Lets Talk Bright Marketing, Edinburgh, 5th June
11. Lets Talk More Profit, Newcastle, 6th June
12. Lets Talk More Profit, Leeds, 7th June
13. Lets Talk Bright Marketing, Colchester, 13th June
14. Lets Talk Bright Marketing, Southampton, 20th June
15. Lets Talk Bright Marketing, Worcester, 26th June
16. Lets Talk More Profit, Romford, 3rd July
17. Lets Talk More Profit, Canary Wharf, London, 4th July
18. Lets Talk More Profit, Newmarket, 5th July
19. Lets Talk More Profit, Worthing, 11th July

Despite the awful headline “Silver start-ups for our golden oldies” (yuk) this article from The Scotsman contains two interesting case studies of start-up firms built on their owners’ previous experience.
Jack Hamilton’s firm maintains floating buoys and other navigational aids around the UK, and now employs 15 people. Jack has yeas of experience in the field. “When I got to 61, my son Billy had finished his gap year and was wondering what to do with himself. That’s when we decided to set up an agency for marine aids to navigation.”
May Marcus and Julie McTaggart, both in their 50s, set up Premier Car Check within a month of being made redundant. Both women had considerable experience of vehicle checking. Their service enables car buyers to find out if there are problems about their prospective purchase - for example if money is owed on it or if it’s been reported as stolen.