Go Wansbeck - go further - right here in Wansbeck

The countdown is on for hundreds of potential entrepreneurs in Wansbeck to sign up for an innovative challenge to unlock their enterprise potential – Enterprise Island.

Enterprise Island - devised and brought to Wansbeck by the UK’s top enterprise guru, Iain Scott, has been invited to the district by Go Wansbeck – the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative. Iain, along with his panel of local business people and specialists, will be helping people who have dreamt of being their own boss to realise the dream of setting up their own business.

Iain has been aiding business start-ups through Enterprise Island for 15 years and has helped about 1,000 people develop their ideas into a viable business. The three events for would-be Wansbeck entrepreneurs to meet Iain and his panel of specialists should be booked in advance.

Iain said: “We’re on the lookout for the talent of Wansbeck! The great thing about Enterprise Island is that it is a non-threatening “chat” which will tease out sparks of entrepreneurialism. What we are doing is unique because we are aiming to help the thousands of people who have dreamed of setting up a business but haven’t done anything about it yet – often because they haven’t got the confidence or don’t believe that anyone will take them, or their ideas, seriously.

“Enterprise Island Challenge is very friendly and relaxed! We believe literally anyone can learn how to think like an entrepreneur and set up a business.

“Forget business plans - we want to see people aged 16 to 65 including students, housewives and unemployed people - who are excited about the possibility of setting up their own business and want to know if their idea has potential.”

Everyone gets around five minutes to talk about themselves or their idea to the panel.

The 10 people chosen as having the most entrepreneurial potential will have the chance to take their business idea on to the next level at a free residential weekend course in October, where they will be given expert support and help.

A further 30 people will be invited to a free fun and entertaining two day workshop Tortoise Walking for Beginners - Learn How to Think and Act Like an Entrepreneur.

One local entrepreneur knows just how much Enterprise Island can help. Lynn Munro, from Morpeth took part in an Enterprise Island challenge four years ago, when she was working as a nurse and went on to set up her own business – Absolute Energy, a massage therapy company which has clients – including large corporations – all over the country.

Lynn said: “Before I took part in the Enterprise Island challenge working as a district nurse I didn’t have much confidence in myself, but Enterprise Island made me realise I could do something else. It really gave me the confidence boost and the support that I needed to go on and set up my business – which has gone from strength to strength. We have now branched out from massages in the workplace and at corporate events to Peer Massage in Schools, an innovative worldwide programme which Absolute Energy is pioneering in Northumberland.

“Overall Enterprise Island was a fantastic experience and I would never have started up my own business without it – I’d recommend it to anyone whether you’ve got a concrete plan or simply a dream about being your own boss.”

Keith Raine, Wansbeck LEGI’s programme manager said: “Iain has helped people all over the country to successfully start up successful businesses and so we are very much looking forward to him working his magic with the people of Wansbeck!”

If you live in Wansbeck book a free place on Enterprise Island Challenge by calling the Go Wansbeck team on 01670 843 497.

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