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New Spring Programme for Budding Venturers
A business start-up initiative, Mustard TeamStart, has been launched for anyone in the West Midlands region who has the energy and drive to create his or her own high growth business. Mustard TeamStart is not just a classroom exercise: uniquely it includes practical help, plus an extended period of one-to-one advice, as well as providing the extra momentum that comes from joining a group of highly motivated and like-minded people.
This West Midlands-wide initiative is open to promising entrepreneurs across the region, regardless of age. It is being delivered by the internationally recognised University of Warwick Science Park (UWSP) on behalf of the region's Business Links. There will be a series of four Mustard TeamStart programmes over a 15-month period. With each new programme, delivery of the induction phase will move to a new West Midlands location, but the major part of each participant's help will always be delivered locally by UWSP in collaboration with their local Business Link.
The induction phase of the first Mustard TeamStart programme, open to would-be entrepreneurs from anywhere in the West Midlands region, started recently in Staffordshire. Its objective is to help entrepreneurs, known as Venturers, to build high growth, innovation led start up businesses and to ultimately create jobs across the whole of the region, which also includes Birmingham, the Black Country, Coventry & Warwickshire, Shropshire and Hereford & Worcester.
Mustard TeamStart is aimed at ambitious people who may feel their career is effectively blocked, or those who are currently unemployed (or are concerned about becoming unemployed) and are now seeking to take more control of their own future. People in family owned businesses wishing to branch out, and those who think their existing business needs a fresh impetus, are also considered likely to be interested.
The programme involves an informal selection process, a series of six Saturday workshops and an extended period of one-to-one mentoring. The core methodology was developed by the UWSP after research had shown that at least two people, or larger teams that can pool start-up capital, generally start high growth businesses. The report also concluded that innovative companies, run by experienced business people, are more likely to succeed.
Funded by Advantage West Midlands, the region's development agency and the ERDF, the programme costs each Venturer £500+VAT, which goes towards the £5,000 cost of the support that each participant on the initiative will receive.
"Probably the best resourced start up package ever, based on a well tested and proven methodology," is how Harry Stott, Mustard TeamStart Project Director describes the scheme. Harry adds, "We want to provide local Venturers with the opportunity and all the support necessary, to create local businesses and high value added jobs. Our aim is to get viable businesses up and running in six to nine months. Highly motivated and committed Venturers could achieve it in three months." Anyone wishing to know more about Mustard TeamStart can contact Harry Stott at UWSP, free on 0800 587 0721.
Cliff Cotterill - 2002/05/04
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