Put Your Dreams On The Road At Shows
Past Events

From the Bolton Evening News.

Entrepreneur help for “hard to reach” communities.

A SERIES of events aimed at helping people realise their business dreams has got under way.

Business Bolton has teamed up with towns Council of Mosques to host three Start-up Roadshows, aimed at people who find it difficult to access mainstream support services.

These “hard to reach” communities include sections of the Muslim population, ethnic minorities, including Somalians and refugees, and disabled people. However anyone is welcome to attend.

The events, the first of which was held lat Tuesday, include presentations and exhibitions stands from local businesses.

And more than 40 newly-emerging entrepreneurs who attended were given the opportunity to sign up for extra support.

Ebrahim Karolia, of Business Bolton, said: “We had speakers to give people an insight into business knowledge and we can direct people to do the best sources of finance information of business support. Many people don’t know where to start or who to turn to. We can provide business support and training in areas like book-keeping and customer care. If someone attends one of our free programmes, they should end up with a business plan and be equipped with many of the skills needed to go into business. It’s important to help people realise their ambitions. If we can get these people into business, it will mean more jobs and greater economic prosperity for the borough.

Organisations who offered advice included HSK solicitors, Business Link North-west, Islamic Bank of Britain, Affordable Accounts and Pearl Properties.

They gave help to people on a variety of subjects, including service provisions, import and export of goods and setting up a football coaching school.

A Bolton Council of Mosques spokesman said the group got involved in the programme because of its contacts in the ethnic minority population. He added: “at the business roadshows we had a mixed group of people which included Muslims, Hindus and Christians.”

The next roadshows take place on February 14, from 6pm to 9pm at Nightingale Community Centre, Great Lever, and on March 13, from 6pm to 9pm at Astley Community Centre, Astley Street.

Places are limited. To book, call 01204 363680.

Meanwhile, Business Bolton is hosting a drop-in event, aimed at Bolton’s black and Afro-Caribbean and refugee communities, on Wednesday from 10am to 3pm at the Friends Meeting House, Silverwell Street, in the town centre. For details, call 01204 336077.

Article from the Bolton Evening News.

 

The Bolton Council of Mosques (BCoM)