Free Business Course For Guildford’s Budding Entrepreneurs

Published on: 3 Feb, 2021
Updated on: 3 Feb, 2021

The borough council is helping set up a free 10-day business course, offering residents a new way of thinking and practical ideas to make business ideas a reality.

Those with established businesses can gain more information, inspiration and practical advice on how to grow and adapt.

The initiative, run on Zoom by the PopUp Business School, runs from Monday, February 22 till Friday, March 5, includes practical sessions, one-to-one coaching, workshops and peer support. There are two sessions a day at 10am and 1.30pm. Support continues after the course has finished with an online supportive community.

Cllr John Redpath

Cllr John Redpath (R4GV, Holy Trinity), lead for the economy, said: “This is a great opportunity for residents considering starting a business, or who want to develop business skills if they areout of work or facing redundancy. After one recent course, 122 new businesses were created.

“Many local businesses are facing difficulties due to the continued impact of the global pandemic. We are here to support all our local businesses and provide as much help as we can.

“We have already distributed more than £23 million in government grants and provided business rate relief to businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors.”

For more information on the course and to sign up, visit the PopUp Business School website.

The council has also offered help and support to residents and local businesses affected by the pandemic with a Virtual Job Club and discretionary grants. Please get in touch if you need any help and information.Views of residents are welcomed and the deadline for the council’s business survey has been extended till February 15. If you haven’t had a chance to fill it out yet, you can complete it here.

PopUp Business School was founded in 2012 by Alan Donegan and Simon Paine and helps people from all walks of life to start their own businesses. Its mission is to change the way entrepreneurship is taught across the world.

The school has educated more than 7,000 people in seven countries through free events and helped launch 967 businesses in 2019 alone. Its work has been backed by organisations including Google, Henley Business School and the Department for Work and Pensions.