Starting a business or becoming self-employed can be a major step for anyone, particularly for those who have been out of the workforce for some time.
Across Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, a series of events have been announced to help people explore whether self-employment could be a realistic option for them.
Hosted by Go Succeed on behalf of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, the sessions will take place on Wednesday, 29 October via Zoom, on Wednesday, 5 November at Crossmaglen Community Centre from 2pm to 3pm, on Friday, 7 November at Newry Library from 2pm to 3pm, on Wednesday, 12 November at Down Business Centre from 3pm to 4pm and on Wednesday, 3 December at Warrenpoint Town Hall from 10am to 11am.
Each session is led by an entrepreneur who has made the transition into business and will share first hand experience, answer questions and outline the realities of getting started.
Attendees will be taken through the fundamentals of early stage self employment. This includes how to begin a self employment journey, what is required to register a business, what support is available, what costs to expect and how to shape an idea or identify a suitable business to pursue.
The sessions are aimed at people who are economically inactive, meaning they are not currently in work and not actively looking for a job. This may include people who are long term sick or disabled, carers, parents without access to childcare, students who are not working, early retirees, or those facing barriers such as confidence, transport, or digital access. Some participants may receive benefits, others may not, but all are considered outside the active labour market.
Participants will also hear about the Go Succeed: Get Started In Business programme, delivered by Excalibur Press, which offers an in-depth business/self-employment workshop, up to 10 hours of one to one mentoring tailored to individual needs, along with access to a financial assistance package to support early steps into business.
Tina Calder, Chief Vision Officer at Excalibur Press, said: “The drop-in sessions are designed to help people think about self-employment in a realistic and accessible way.
“Whether someone has an idea they want to explore or is simply curious about what it takes to start a business, this is a great place to begin.
“The extended programme beyond this will support people in identifying what challenges or barriers they may face to access self-employment and starting a business and our fantastic mentors will guide people through the beginning of their journey equipping them with everything they need to access additional support and test their new business.”
To register for a Go Succeed: Is Business Right For Me session in Newry, Mourne and Down District Council go to https://bit.ly/NMDDC2910EPweb