European funding still available for Merseyside Businesses start-up

More and more people are looking to start up a business whether it’s because they can’t find the right job but feel they have the skills and attributes to become self-employed or whether it's people just retired or made redundant or simply looking for a life-style change for example creating a business out of a hobby or passion. Whatever the reason there are many rewarding benefits to ‘ being your own boss’ and more people every day are looking at this option and making a valuable contribution to the economy - micro and small businesses account for 95% of UK companies

Alt Valley Community Trust, based in Croxteth, have European funding to help individuals residing in Merseyside to ‘step on that first rung of the ladder’ towards self-employment by providing a range of business support services designed to help individuals understand what it is like to run a small business. The support is delivered by a Free Start up workshop ‘Smarta Business Starter’ and one-to- one business advice on matters such as : setting up your business, legislation and insurances, Finance and planning, Marketing and Sales including Free workshops on Digital marketing, how to develop email campaigns, optimise or set up a website and making Social media work for your business.

The Business Start-up workshops are run each month at the Communiversity in Croxteth whilst they also have a drop in surgery in Crosby Library Thursdays 2pm – 4pm where residents can meet a local business advisor ( they are currently hoping to extend this to other libraries throughout Sefton). The workshops can be arranged at hours to suit individuals in some cases with evening sessions being available.

They are a Charitable Trust and this is a free ERDF funded service which they provide to the local community – they can even help existing businesses in the community with other support which they have available.

Funding was allocated before the referendum and will be available until at least 2018.

For more information visit http://altvalley.co.uk/business-enterprise

email: johnmathias@altvalley.co.uk

or write to:

Alt Valley Community Trust

The Communiversity

Altcross Road

Croxteth

Liverpool

L11 0BS

Telephone number: 0151 546 5514