RiDO Rotherham Investment & Development Office

A project set up to help new and existing businesses develop is celebrating helping more than 50 people turn entrepreneur and make their business dream a reality.

Rotherham Enterprise, was set up by partners in the borough to give a helping hand to people who had a business idea but needed help and advice to make it happen and to help existing businesses progress.

Rachel Clark from Rotherham Enterprise said: “We are delighted that in our first year we have helped more than 50 individuals set up their own businesses.

“We set out to develop and foster an enterprising culture across our local communities by promoting self-employment and enterprising opportunities for individuals and businesses. We are really thrilled by our success to date and are sure there are many more people out there who can turn an idea into a thriving business.”

The project employs teams of business coaches and business support officers to work closely with communities and with individuals who want to start or already run their own business.

The coaches are able to offer free advice and can help people to develop their ideas and mentor them through the first steps of setting up a company or give them the direction they need to grow their business.

New businesses who have benefitted from Rotherham Enterprise include:

• Empire Medical Training Services, set up by Chris Unwin to deliver first aid training courses and services to private and public sector organisations
• Danny Winterman, from Dinnington, set up Phoenix Luxury Interiors an interior installation company
• Rebecca Gregory from Kimberworth Park has set up a cleaning company, RCS
• Sharon Turner and Joe Devlin have set up Level Ground Ltd (a social enterprise) to provide specialised driving tuition to the people with audible impairment and have developed a training course to teach other instructors in the techniques required
• Mr Khan, owner of Park Gate based Homeflair, has opened a new garden centre and restaurant, which has led to 17 new staff and helped to diminish the long term unemployment register.

Rachel added: “We have helped people from all walks of life from those recently made redundant to single mums who really wanted to get back into the world of work and have helped people set up in so many different sectors.

“There are many opportunities for people to become self employed and in the current economic climate it is extremely important for people to know that free and confidential help is available,” added Rachel.

Rotherham Enterprise is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and is being delivered by four partner organisations; Rotherham Youth Enterprise, Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber, Rotherham Investment and Development Office (RiDO) and Voluntary Action Rotherham.