With the UWE Ventures closing at Bush House, this September, where are small businesses going to get support from.
While there are still organisations like BRAVE and Business West as well as numerous business support networks providing valuable help, the Ventures operation provided specific on-site facilities like business library, informal consultation and formal mentoring with experienced professionals and in-depth reviews from a business panel not quite replicated elsewhere.
On top of the fact that the businesses currently housed there are going to have to review their situation and where they might want to work, they may well miss out on the support previously offered.
In order to preserve this valuable service, the Colston Office Centre are going to keep the business panel and mentors available to all small businesses in the local community.
The business centre near the bottom of Christmas Steps already offers their own business library, free consultations, support services and training to existing clients. Now they will take over the organising of the business panel and mentors and make these services available to any business that needs them – whether an existing client or not.
Barry Harvey, Centre Manager, said ‘These services are too valuable to lose. We need to promote and support business from pre-start through growth to exit and we want to retain and extend these services’.
To look at how this will happen, the Centre is holding an Open Day this Thursday. Representatives from UWE Ventures, Business West and experts and mentors – from the existing panel and beyond – will be present as well as small businesses affected by theses changes.
If you are a business owner looking for support or an expert interested in providing help to local business the please get in touch with Barry Harvey on 0117 317 8090.
The Open Day is from 2-5pm Thursday 26th July 2012.
Register for Colston Office Centre Open Day.
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