Help Offered to Entrepreneurs in South Yorkshire

[ekinnee]

Help offered to entrepreneurs

By Bob Rae

ENTREPRENEURS from Rotherham are getting a helping hand, courtesy of the European Union.
Rotherham Enterprise is a new initiative that has been set up with backing from the European Regional Development Fund to help anyone from the town who wants to set up or is running their own businesses.

The initiative will employ teams of business coaches and business support officers who will work closely with communities and with individuals.

Geoff Link, from Rotherham Enterprise said: "We want to develop and foster an enterprising culture across our local communities by promoting self-employment and enterprising opportunities for individuals and businesses.

"There are many opportunities for people to become self employed and in the current economic climate it is extremely important for people to know that free and confidential help is available."

The project is being delivered by four organisations: Rotherham Investment and Development Office (RiDO), Rotherham Youth Enterprise (RYE), Voluntary Action Rotherham (VAR), and Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber of Commerce.

RiDO will look after any one over 30 and RYE, anyone under 30, while VAR will help people wanting to set up social enterprises and the Chamber of Commerce will assist existing businesses.

Source: http://www.thestar.co.uk/business/He...urs.5519822.jp

[go4it]

Who wins - Rotherham or the team of 'business coaches' employed on silly K a year to 'mentor' would be businesses.

Rotherham is in trouble. It is almost a ghost town and the city centre is dead. Is this due to lack of would be entrepreneurs? No it is because Meadowhall is on it's doorstep.

Sheffield city centre struggled for a bit with Meadowhall. A lot of retailers left the city centre to go on the outskirts. But it once it soon became apparent that some Sheffielders didn't fancy travelling to the outskirts for their shopping, retailers soon came back and business seems good.

Rotherham is minutes from Meadowhall. Any shopper is going to choose Meadowhall over Rotherham city centre.

It needs a new approach - develop Rotherham as a market town. Have a large cafe / community centre, regular street markets selling fruit / veg / handmade stuff - things you can't buy from Meadowhall.