PRIME business club

Date: Wednesday 15 July and Tuesday 8 September, 2009
Time: 10am - 4pm
Venue: Central London

Meeting and building relationships with business contacts can be a real challenge, especially if you’re starting from scratch. This networking event will make it easy and enjoyable for you to meet like-minded people in an informal setting.

The event will include:

Networking activities

Hints and tips on how to best use your time to make quality contacts and what to do with them after the evening is over

One-to-one business advice sessions with John Mitchell

One-to-one benefits advice sessions with Shirley Spong

Workshop with Penny Power on how to network effectively both at the event and online, and how to turn those new contacts into business

Inspirational story from the guest speaker 

Event speakers

John Mitchell

John is an acknowledged specialist on self-employment for disabled and disadvantaged people who has recently assisted the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform in the development of the Business Support Simplification Programme launched in 2008.

Shirley Spong

Shirley started work for Greenwich council in 1983 providing free legal representation.
After three years she moved to work in a law centre as a specialist tribunal worker in what was then the third poorest borough in London. Shirley is currently working with Business Link in London to develop supportive and accessible programmes for would-be Deaf and disabled entrepreneurs that overcome the barriers that the benefit system creates.

Penny Power

In 1998 Penny came up with the idea of Ecademy, a Social Business Network to connect business people for learning, career and business development. Glenn Watkins joined Penny right at the beginning becoming Chief Executive in 2001.

Glenn built the business whilst Thomas Power took over as the front person for Ecademy. Penny spent time bringing up the children, remaining in the background of Ecademy, but always watching and contacting members.

Booking details

Reserve your place at this event on Wednesday 15 July, Stamford Street - Opens in a new window

Reserve your place at this event on Tuesday 8 September, Euston Road - Opens in a new window

Anne Walsh, 53 from Manchester, went from BT operations manager to quirky craftswoman, when she applied for voluntary redundancy.

BT operations manager Anne Walsh was the breadwinner for a disabled husband and three children. Fed up with her office job, Anne promised herself she would change her life when she turned 50. Anne applied for voluntary redundancy, sold her Porsche, and bought a van. She began to make gifts for family friends, and to sell on eBay. Anne made flowers out of socks, cakes and trifles out of soap and face cloths, and large cakes out of baby’s nappies. Anne says ‘the cakes definitely started as a hobby, but more and more people wanted them, and it soon became a business.’ My Unique Gifts now caters for a wealth of occasions from births and weddings to dog and cat pampering, with products ranging from £3.95 to £55.

Research

Anne’s first idea was the ‘nappy cake’. This is a fake cake made of disposable nappies, which Anne saw on holiday in San Francisco in 2001. Anne researched the product on the Internet and found that though extremely popular in the US and Canada, the nappy cake was barely on the British market. Anne purchased a ‘teach yourself’ DVD, and began to experiment. My Unique Gifts now boasts a whole range of nappy cakes from single to five tiered, complete with 96 nappies, two bottles, a pair of baby socks, baby suit and matching hat or bib, receiving blanket, crystal keepsake, photo frame, and soft toy.

Training

When Anne registered with PRIME, she was told where to go for business advice. She attended a free HMRC Business Advice Open Day, where PRIME hosted a seminar on working for yourself. Anne then booked herself onto a free HMRC workshop on self-employment tax issues. Anne says ‘both events were extremely helpful in getting to know the basics.’ But she did leave some things to the professionals, and hired a bookkeeper to document her accounts. The rest of Anne’s training was simply trying new things and learning as she went along.

Marketing and development

An early marketing tool was to circulate an email round Manchester College. A family friend, worked at the college, and sent out pictures of Christmas cakes that were on offer. This was very successful, and large orders flooded in. Anne now keeps her own mailing list, and sends out details of new gifts, or seasonal promotions.

Anne attended a craft fair with her Daughter in the Lake District, and was thrilled by the positive feedback her gifts received. The buzz spurred her on and Anne began to go to craft fairs and farmer’s markets on a regular basis. This brought in repeat customers, and the business began to expand.

Anne is now considering larger trade markets and has applied for her first two day event, the Stars and Stripes Classic American Car Show in Cheshire. Larger markets are £25 - £60 for the pitch; more expensive than the small craft fairs Anne is used to. But they provide a great opportunity to hit a larger and more commercial audience.

When going to get a logo painted on her van, Alan, the graphic designer gave Anne a tip. He recommended investing in a 0800 number. This means that if Anne’s real number (or ghost number) changes, the business line will remain the same, and customers will not be lost. The freephone number costs Anne about £60 a year. Calls cost an extra 4p a minute, but Anne keeps costs down by using her answer machine to take messages, then phoning people back from her landline, which has free minutes.

Anne’s main marketing weapon came in the form of stepson Steven Walsh. Steven is the Director of Marketing Success Unlimited, a company which specialises in branding and marketing campaign management, with a focus on online marketing. Steven provided Anne with business cards, letterheaded paper and flyers, and crucially created her website and online shop. This made Anne’s products more visible and accessible to customers outside Manchester. It also allowed people to pay by credit or debit card, which made the transaction process easier and safer for customers.

Problems

Anne’s main problem was finding suppliers that would keep the costs down. Where the Internet had proven an invaluable research tool in other areas, a lot of old warehouses were just not online. The Internet pointed to expensive and commercial manufacturers, and Anne had to dig a lot deeper to find wholesalers that provided a cost-effective price. Word of mouth became the best resource here. Anne asked friends that worked in retail, and got some good leads. Finally she was able to get her materials at a bargain, and bring down the asking price of her own gifts.

Future

Anne’s business is steadily growing and expanding. With each request, more socks and nappies are taking over the house. On 1st June 2009, Anne opened a shop and workshop, giving her business more space and achieving her target for 2009.

Contacts

Anne Walsh
53B North Road
Droylsden
Tameside
Manchester
M43 6NN
Freephone no: 0800 043 7156
Website: www.myuniquegifts.co.uk

Free Cobwebs (information factsheets) on renting, buying and choosing business premises are available from PRIME on request.

Business Link Enterprise Gateway Service, East Sussex is running a programme of FREE workshops.

Building Business Confidence
This FREE start up service builds your confidence through workshops, networking and one to one advice.

Four Simple Steps to Help you

 Step 1 - Personal Empowerment

Empower yourself! How to set goals, improve your confidence and communication and find your inspiration for business.

Step 2 - Beginners’ Market Research

How to research the people that matter, and understand the facts and figures you need to increase your confidence for business.

Step 3 - Business Basics and Budgets

Helping you decide if running a business is for you - giving you the essential grounding that you need and a clear next step action plan.

Step 4 - An Introduction to Tax

A no-nonsense tax workshop including straight-forward layouts, giving you confidence in your record-keeping and form-filling.

Workshop dates:

Tuesday 30 June, Hailsham - Step 1: Personal Empowerment

Wednesday 17 June, Hailsham - Step 2: Beginners’ Market Research

Wednesday 8 July, Hastings - Step 2: Beginners’ Market Research

Monday 22 June, Hailsham - Step 3: Business Basics & Budgets

Thursday 16 July, Hastings - Step 3: Business Basics & Budgets

Wednesday 24 June, Hailsham - Step 4: An Introduction to Tax

Monday 20 July, Hastings - Step 4: An Introduction to Tax

 To find out more or to book on to an event please contact Guy Walsh on 01444 259 329, email him at guy.walsh@businesslinksussex.co.uk or visit www.bringyourideastolife.co.uk  

Anne Martis, 58, from Banbury started her own walking holiday business after being made redundant in the summer of 2008. Less than a year on, Walk the Landscape is in full swing offering over 15 different guided walks. Anne says that ‘walkers get to know about England’s rich history and nature, as well as getting exercise and companionship.’ Prices are £25 per person for a day walk or £60 for the family, £230 per person for a 2 night weekend, and £590 per person for the week.

Walk the Landscape is a family business offering knowledge and experience of the Cotswold and Oxfordshire countryside. An average walk lasts 5-7 miles, but this can be made longer or shorter depending on ability and preference. The commentary can be anything from the Norman Conquest of 1066, mythological stone circles, Jane Austen, or the Cotswold Olimpick Games. And the group can refuel halfway through, and socialise with the locals at a traditional rural pub.

Anne first thought of Walk the Landscape, to subsidise her pension. But when she was made redundant from her job as a project manager in software development, Anne took the opportunity to do something about it. Anne’s first step was to seek training.

Training

PRIME recommended Enterprise on Track, a free course for older women starting up in business, at London Metropolitan University. The course consists of ten day-long sessions, spread over 20 weeks, and is focused towards health and community based businesses. London Met offers a selection of courses specific to women starting up in business, so they are worth checking out.

Anne also attended a Business Link course in Oxfordshire, for business start-ups. Here she learnt about public liability, which was essential in protecting the business legally. Anne devised a thorough booking form, so that she was aware (and welcoming) of any health problems, disabilities, or special requirements.

As well as the basics, Anne needed some qualifications for health and safety. She says ‘all our guides are now trained in first aid’. Walk the Landscape is therefore prepared for any accidents that may occur while the group is walking.

Research and Preparation

Anne boasts degrees in Botany and Agricultural Science, so she knows what to say about the flowers and wildlife. Anne’s historical knowledge of the area came from the five years she spent volunteering as a warden for the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. As Anne got to know the Cotswolds by foot, she researched its heritage, and there began the desire to share what she had learnt with the community.

Anne did a lot of research in the local library. She searched the Internet, read popular history books, and discovered many things for the first time. Finding out about local Roman remains, was a particular surprise.

Establishing a presence

One way to make her business known was to get a website. Anne had previously done a Open University course in Website Design, which taught her how to use html. Anne was able to create an efficient website, using only Microsoft Word 2007, and skills she had learnt on the course. The website includes detailed descriptions of the walks available, a downloadable brochure and booking form and information about accommodation and the local area. As a special flourish, the site even has its own weather forecast.

Anne recently gave the business more authority, by registering as a Sole Trader. A Sole Trader has complete control of their business, as opposed to a Partnership; where two people have control, and a Limited Company; where the business has legal independence from its owners. One advantage of becoming a Sole Trader is that you do not have to register before you start trading. Anne says the process was ‘surprisingly easy. I just made a short phone call to Companies House, and that was that.’ For more information on choosing or registering a legal status, contact PRIME, and ask for the information factsheet (or Cobweb).

Problems

Despite Anne’s website, publicity is a big problem. She says: ‘Potentially, I have customers throughout Britain and the rest of the world, but it is difficult targeting them effectively on a limited budget’. Anne has no external funds to support Walk the Landscape, which means she is financing the whole thing with her redundancy money.

So far, Anne’s main cost has been travelling to the London Met. There is no equipment to buy, premises to rent, or employees to pay, so Anne has managed to set the business up on a remarkably low budget. Anne does not have to rely on loans or sponsorship to keep the business moving, which is great. But it does mean some of her options for growth are restricted. For example, Anne can probably not afford to target large circulation magazines or newspapers on a regular basis.

Anne is combating the publicity issue, by slowly building up a client base. She has devised a newsletter which people can subscribe to when they book their first holiday. By this means, Anne will gain regular customers. Other marketing strategies have been to give contact details to the South East and South West tourist boards, become linked to holiday websites, and provide hotels with leaflets to put in their foyers. Anne’s next idea is to approach schools, which will provide large numbers, and benefit from her educational style.

Contacts

Anne Martis
Tel: 01295 811003 (home) 07718 660070 (mobile)
Email: Anne.m@walkthelandscape.co.uk
Website: www.walkthelandscape.co.uk

Companies House
Tel: 0870 333 3636
Website: www.companieshouse.gov.uk

London Metropolitan University
Enterprise on Track - 020 7716 7015
The Centre for Micro Enterprise - 020 7320 1573
Email: hilary.farnworth@londonmet.ac.uk

PRIME
Astral House
1268 London Road
London
SW16 4ER
Tel: 0800 783 1904
Email: prime@ace.org.uk

Made redundant at 52, and suffering from Myalgic Encephalopathy (ME), the Job Centre told Tony Palmer that his chances of paid employment were slim. Tony took matters into his own hands and started his own engraving business.

Crystal Mountain Glass sells engraved awards, wedding gifts, decanters, bowls, and paperweights, as well as rock tablets with multilevel carving, and Swarovski crystals. Tony bulk buys the glass from a supplier in Scotland, and engraves it in a 12ft x 15ft workshop in his back garden. Prices vary, with engraved pet tags at £5, Swarovski Suncatchers from £15, and Champions Trophies at £250.

Tony was made redundant in April 2008. He applied for jobs, but was never granted an interview. Tony suspected this was due to his age and health issues, and the Job Centre agreed with him. Tony says ‘I sat down and discussed it with my wife Marion. We chose self-employment because it was the only option’. On the 1st September 2008, the business was launched.

Starting up

Tony cashed in his pension to buy his equipment and start the business. The equipment cost around £12,000 as some of it had to be imported from America. By giving up his pension, Tony runs the risk of relying on job seekers allowance if the business is unsuccessful. Yet Tony is confident in his ability, and so far, all is going well.

Tony’s first step to becoming self-employed was to ‘get advice’. Tony attended free HMRC workshops on tax returns and VAT. This helped Tony decide whether to be VAT registered or not, and helped him understand about accounts and bookkeeping. Tony is now thinking of taking on an accountant to save time, but is clued up enough to know what is what.

Tony took part in Business Link workshops, which focused on starting in business, and creating a website. He plans to attend a further course on increasing website traffic, and has requested an information factsheet (or Cobweb) on the same, from PRIME. Tony’s main tip in becoming self-employed is ‘Get as much advice as possible. It is free and always valuable’. You can find details of free workshops in your area by going to www.primebusinessclub.com/category/events.

Marketing

Tony and Marion attend craft fairs each month. A pitch can cost anything between £70 and £170 for a 6ft area. The fairs are a way of spreading the word, and can often bring in large orders a few months down the line. Tony says ‘people will talk to us at an event, then a sports day or award ceremony will pop up, and they’ll remember and give us a call’.

Tony wanted to employ a website designer, but every quote was 4 figures so he did it himself instead. Tony went to www.123-reg.co.uk and bought a domain name. It was then about £70 for a software package, which allowed Tony to upload information via already formatted templates.

When looking for a glass supplier, Tony made a shrewd move with The Glass Scribe International in Scotland. As well as getting a good deal on wholesale glass, Tony became sole distributor for The Glass Scribe in London. This meant that Tony got a free listing as a stockist on The Glass Scribe’s website, as well as being able to show off his collection to those picking up orders.

Networking

Tony attends a small business club, once a month, in Thurrock. ‘It is good to mix with businesses that are in different stages of development’ says Tony. People share knowledge and tips, and it is also a good chance to gain contacts, and talk about your own product.

Problems

Tony suffers from Myalgic Encephalopathy (ME). ME can cause severe fatigue and malaise after mental or physical activity. Tony’s old job demanded long periods of visual processing; about 60% of the time dedicated to looking at a computer screen. Tony would go for so many weeks, but then have to take time off to recover. Now his own boss, Tony can have what his specialist calls ‘a modified living style’. He brakes up his time in front of the computer, interchanging it with other aspects of the business. As a result, Tony’s ME becomes more manageable.

Seven months after Crystal Mountain Glass began, and the business is beginning to fund itself. But work is sporadic, and Tony and Marion sometimes have to dip into their bank account to keep the cash flow going. This is a temporary solution, until orders become more regular.

What Tony really wants, is enough profit to support a showroom or a shop. That way people could peruse the collection first hand, just like they do at the craft fairs. With an increasing customer base, and regular marketing, it is surely just a matter of time.

Contact

Crystal Mountain Glass
23 Somerset Gardens
Basildon
Essex
SS13 3JJ
Tel: 07504 779038
E-mail: tony.palmer@crystalmountainglass.co.uk
Website: www.crystalmountainglass.co.uk

The Open Day programme is the biggest government business support road show, designed to provide free information and support to businesses, through a series of exhibitions across the country.

It is organised by HM Revenue and Customs, who invite local organisations and representatives of national bodies such as PRIME that can provide support and advice to local businesses. The organisations chosen all operate on an “other than for profit” i.e. non-commercial basis.

At this free event you will have access to a full team of experts who provide advice and technical support on a range of subjects, covering every stage of your business from start-up, through growth and expansion to pension arrangements when you retire. Free seminars cover topics such as meeting government regulations, funding, marketing and enhancing your business through new technology.

Click on the link below to find out more and to book your place.

Website Link: http://www.businessadviceday.gov.uk/events/

The Open Day programme is the biggest government business support road show, designed to provide free information and support to businesses, through a series of exhibitions across the country.

It is organised by HM Revenue and Customs, who invite local organisations and representatives of national bodies such as PRIME that can provide support and advice to local businesses. The organisations chosen all operate on an “other than for profit” i.e. non-commercial basis.

At this free event you will have access to a full team of experts who provide advice and technical support on a range of subjects, covering every stage of your business from start-up, through growth and expansion to pension arrangements when you retire. Free seminars cover topics such as meeting government regulations, funding, marketing and enhancing your business through new technology.

Click on the link below to find out more and to book your place.

Website Link: http://www.businessadviceday.gov.uk/events/

The Open Day programme is the biggest government business support road show, designed to provide free information and support to businesses, through a series of exhibitions across the country.

It is organised by HM Revenue and Customs, who invite local organisations and representatives of national bodies such as PRIME that can provide support and advice to local businesses. The organisations chosen all operate on an “other than for profit” i.e. non-commercial basis.

At this free event you will have access to a full team of experts who provide advice and technical support on a range of subjects, covering every stage of your business from start-up, through growth and expansion to pension arrangements when you retire. Free seminars cover topics such as meeting government regulations, funding, marketing and enhancing your business through new technology.

Click on the link below to find out more and to book your place.

Website Link: http://www.businessadviceday.gov.uk/events/

Date: Thursday 28 May 2009 - Friday 29 May 2009

Time: 10am to 5pm both days

Venue: ExCeL London, One Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock,London E16 1XL

Status: PRIME exhibiting

PRIME has a stand (740) at this excellent free show. Come and talk to us.

Business Startup 2009 is a large event with 230 exhibitors and a programme of over 140 seminars. Both the show and the seminars are free. You can order tickets online at www.bstartup.com, or phone 0800 328 0467.

GETTING THERE
ExCeL London is located 10 minutes from Canary Wharf, in the heart of the former Royal Docks. The site is bracketed by three Docklands Light Railway stations, and has parking for 4,000 cars. Venue details.

PRIME is currently working with Success Doncaster to help you assess your idea and decide if this could be the right move for you. To take up this offer you should reside in the DMBC area.  

For more information about starting your own business come along to our free Workshop Session for beginners!!

We will focus on:

• What your strengths are and how you might be able to use them by working for yourself
• What you have to do to ‘officially’ start ‘trading’
• How to start looking for customers, finance and premises

To book your FREE place call PRIME on: 0800 783 1904

Chichester College have been awarded funding by SEEDA (the South East England Development Agency) to run an exiting new project called SEED in the South East. 

The project, which runs until December 2010, will be self-employment focused and aims to engage and support 50 unemployed or economically inactive clients, that are 19yrs or over, from areas of deprivation within Lewes and Newhaven. 

Benna Madan is the community business coach  who will be supporting these people. Benna is looking for people who fit the above criteria  that she can help overcome individual barriers in their transition to self-employment? 

If you are interested you will need to move quickly as this unique opportunity only exists for the first 50 clients that are identified.  

Please email Benna Madan if you have any queries.

Benna Madan
Community Business Coach for Lewes/Newhaven
SEED project for Chichester College
info@bennamadan.co.uk

A father’s wish to help his daughter with her school work was the spark that led to the creation of a growing international business. Anthony Hemmings’ Swan Neck Pen is now sold in over 24 countries.

Being left handed, daughter Amy could not see what she was writing. She suffered from bad wrist pain and began to fall behind. Her confidence plummeted. Amy tried other left handed pens on the market, but none of them helped. So father Anthony Hemmings, 53, and friends Mike Deacon, 50, and Dillon Samson, 35 took some standard plastic pens, melted them down and experimented with reshaping them in different ways. It was not long before the first Swan Neck Pen was born, and Mike, Anthony and Dillon set up M.A.D Associates Ltd, (the M.A.D being an acronym of their names).

The Swan Neck Pen has an S-bend neck, which loops over the wording as it is written. The writing remains unsmudged, and better visibility helps prevent common learning mistakes such as reversed letters. Anthony says the design also combats wrist ache and repetitive strain injuries. Anthony’s main goal now is to get the pen into schools.

Amy took about ten minutes to adapt from her ‘fist’ technique, to the more comfortable position offered by the Swan neck. Left-handed friends and parents soon began to make requests for one of the same. ‘When it got to about 50 I thought, hang on there’s a market for this’. So in 2004 Anthony started to investigate manufacturing the pens on a larger scale.

Anthony and his wife Heather, 44, invested their savings to pay for production and legal costs. Banks had no money to lend them and the company directors were often considered ‘too old’ to get meet the criteria for a business grant. One year on from the market launch the profits are still being used to help finance the business. Anthony warns others to ‘really think about it first’.

A key breakthrough was hiring a good solicitor. ‘When we first went to the manufacturers, all we had was a confidentiality agreement’ explains Anthony. ‘We know now it’s not worth the paper it’s written on’. The solicitor knew about the small print, drafted all relevant documents, and helped get the trademark registered in the UK, Europe, and a number of other countries. The product also had to be patented and British Standard tested. But ‘it was money every time’.

Time was another issue. Anthony had to give up his job as an antique dealer to put in the necessary hours. Meanwhile, Mike and Heather seem to spend every spare moment on the business, with the phone, (or several phones), constantly ringing in their Gloucestershire office.

To develop the product, Anthony and Mike had to do their research. But talking to the general public was more problematic than expected. At a local shopping mall, the team discovered they were not officially allowed to approach people, and ended up having to run off every five minutes to avoid getting caught. More successful ventures were events like the Balloon Fiesta in Bristol, where large numbers of pens were sold.

Some people were less enthusiastic. An early manufacturer refused to produce the Swan Neck Pens. ‘He was impressed by the design and could see the benefits, but was just not convinced it would sell commercially’.

Anthony had similar problems with the education authorities. Contacting at the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), Anthony and Heather found it would not endorse the product. Despite possible benefits to health and education, the pen remains subject to schools’ individual discretion.

The company now has another plan to get pens into schools. A disposable Swan Neck is being created, making the pen much more affordable and appealing. A special school discount is currently being offered, to the same aim. Another development is to impregnate the pens with an anti-bacterial liquid, reducing germs passed on in the classroom.

As time goes on, Anthony and Mike are discovering different users the Swan Neck could help. Interest from the Middle East, Thailand and China illustrates that the pen could aid those who write right to left, as well as top to bottom. As the product does not need any adapting to fit this market, the company’s main job here is to decide which distribution channels to use. To do this, the team have devised a questionnaire to send to those wanting to be distributors, so they can assess each applicant before offering a contract.

You can find out more about Anthony and Mike’s business at www.swanneckpen.com  

William Cawley, 53 created a heritage walk with a terrifying twist, when he invented the Shriek in Leek ghost tour.

Bill first did the ghost walk in November 2005 as a fundraising event for Children in Need. Over 40 people turned up to be spooked, raising the charity £100. Seeing the opportunity to make money from the venture, Bill began to repeat the event for special occasions like Halloween, and for large groups coming into town.

Bill dresses up in old style hat and robes to set the sinister tone. The tour lasts an hour and a half, with Bill leading the group through some historical landsites, attributing ghoulish tales to them along the way. The groups fluctuate from 3 to 40 plus people, and can be anything from scout groups, international scientists, or supernatural enthusiasts. Bill describes the walks as being ‘like jazz; a basic theme but lots of variation’. While keeping a creepy focus, he tailors the experience to the group; giving out translations for foreign students, and incorporating architecture, literature, art or culture for those with an interest. The tour finishes at a local pub, where participants can enjoy some food and merriment, and sometimes a live band.

Research

With a degree in History and Politics, articles in the Leek Post and Times, and an avid passion for local knowledge, Bill already had a wealth of information, ready to be unleashed on the public. Bill did extra research by placing an advert in the local paper asking for people’s experiences of ghosts in the area. Bill also studied back papers from the Post and Times’ archives, telling him of famous incidents and haunted buildings. Bill keeps his research fresh, so that his tour can change and develop.

Problems

Although Bill managed to do the tour fairly regularly - about once a fortnight, he found marketing a big problem. Without his own website, or help from the local authorities, Bill was unable to get enough visibility to keep the tour consistent. Conveniently, Bill was approached by Julie Lovatt of The Coffee Clique, also in Leek, who wanted to do something special for Halloween. Bill provided his services, beginning the tour from the coffee shop, while Julie stayed open late providing drinks for the returning customers. The pair now works together when there are festivals or events in Leek, and this brings in good publicity and numbers for both.

Though Bill has found ways to advertise, visibility is still an issue. Bill plans to combat this by setting up a website. He has received cobwebs (information for business factsheets) on ‘Developing and creating a basic website for your business,’ and ‘Choosing and using a website designer’ from PRIME which provide tips, advice and contacts for those wanting to explore this area.

Another problem was unemployment. It sounds obvious, but in the period that Bill was signed on, declaring the ghost walk would mean losing benefits, and paying taxes. Shriek in Leek was not reliable enough to replace these funds, so the absence of work meant there was no ghost tour for about 8 or 9 months.

Future

Bill works part time fundraising for local hospice Douglas Macmillan, and part time writing Port Vale Tales; the history of a local football club, funded by The Heritage Lottery Fund. Soon the latter will come to an end, and Bill will think about taking on his business full time. One idea is to invest in a mini bus, which will enable Bill to tour around the Moorlands area. To do this Bill will need funding. PRIME are currently working with Zopa on the Olderpreneur Loan Scheme. You can find details of eligibility and how to apply here. Business Link has information about finance and grants on their website.

Contacts

Bill Cawley
Tel: 01538 382 966
Email: williamcawley55@btinternet.com

Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce is running a series of free evening workshops about self-employment during May. Each event is about a different topic - you can go to any or all of them.

• Is self employment right for you? 6 May
• Ideas generation Thursday 7 May
• Starting your own business Tuesday 12 May
• Starting your own consultancy Thursday 14 May
• Self employment: tax, pension and benefit implications Tuesday 19 May
• e-marketing Thursday 21 May 2009

To book or find out further information call Rebecca Pilch at Edinburgh Chamber (not PRIME) on 0131 221 3190 or email rebecca.pilch@edinburghchamber.co.uk

Note: A chamber of commerce is a voluntary association of local businesses in a particular area. Its activities will generally include lobbying, training and various kinds of business networking event. Legally their status varies. The most ancient ones, including the Edinburgh Chamber, have royal charters.

Some of them are pretty substantial organisations. The Edinburgh Chamber claims over 2,000 members and has more than 50 staff. It puts on many other events throughout the year, which are open to non-members. Generally there’s a fee. Here’s the Edinburgh Chamber’s full event list