NEW businesses in Worcestershire are to receive a boost from a County Council initiative

Enterprising Worcestershire, the council programme which helps budding entrepreneurs, has pledged to support 250 newly started businesses by November 2015, ensuring they receive the business advice and help they need to survive and prosper. Whether a business needs aid securing growth funding, access to one of the many free training and workshops or one-to-one business advice, Enterprising Worcestershire can help.

Project manager David Smith said: "Our business support programme has been working extremely well with more than 800 individuals looking to set up a business in the area having received advice and support from the programme. However, our support does not end at the initial start up stage. We can help up to two years after start up to make sure a business gets off to the right start.”

Business support provider Blue Orchid, which is based in Redditch and has five business advisors covering the county, delivers some of the key services available from Enterprising Worcestershire. For recently established businesses, this can include help with access to funding, tailored business advice and access to a range of free workshops but as Blue Orchid’s area manager, Catherine Bray explained it also means access to business networks and free entry to the forthcoming business awards.

“We know the first few months and years of creating a business can be difficult,” she said. "Not only are you trying to market and deliver your services or product but you also have to deal with issues like managing cash-flow and understanding when best to take on staff and expand. Blue Orchid business advisors can help with those tough decisions. We can also provide excellent opportunities for businesses to grow and expand by including businesses on our own directory and hosting a number of networking events.”

The Blue Orchid team can be contacted on 01905 676773.