Folkestone Enterprise Gateway
With a philosophy of the better prepared the better the
result, Folkestone Enterprise Gateway was set up just 2 years ago to stimulate
new small businesses. Those that have been established in the Creative Quarter
of Folkestone, Tontine Street and the Old High Street, vary enormously, but the
principal focus of the Enterprise Gateway is on creative industries and its
brief extends to the whole of Folkestone.
The Enterprise Gateway has offered a number of courses for those interested in
business in the town, including workshops and seminars open to everybody on for
instance basic sales techniques, intellectual property but also helping new
businesses to assess if their idea will be sustainable, whether it will work and
encouraging people to think commercially.
Additionally, the Enterprise Gateway (EG) refers new businesses on to the
Folkestone Enterprise Company, part of the Chamber of Commerce, delivering a
range of start-up services. This latter also runs the New Entrepreneur
Scholarship which involves an interview, time spent at the University of Kent,
obtaining a mentor and a grant. 29 people have been referred on for this award
since May 2006, Martin Roche, Director of Folkestone Enterprise Gateway tells
me. Other referrals see new businesspeople go to Business Link and also to the
Prince’s Trust as well as to Enham, the support organisation for those with a
disability.
Folkestone Artists’ Cooperative, featured in the last newsletter, has also
benefited from EG help both through aid with legal expenses and the Cooperative
Advisory Service fee. The Cooperative itself now has 70 members who are well
represented at the Farmers, Fishermen’s and Artists Market which takes place in
Folkestone Harbour.
Women at the Gateway is a further initiative which has seen a great deal of
networking amongst embryonic businesswomen’s enterprises. This was started in
April 2006 and some 38 women turned up for the first meeting. A Women’s
Enterprise Day was run at the Pavilion with 54 new women attending. Present at
this were the Job Centre, the Tax Office, the Prince’s Trust, all organisations
which could be of use in giving out information.
Fundamentally the EG permits networking in a way which allows businesspeople to
share and encourage success, rather than to compete. It is a great aid to
self-confidence, particularly for those sectors of society who for family
reasons may have been out of work for a while.
A pilot scheme to give 10 grants of £500 has been allotted by the South East
England Development Association (SEEDA), for start-up business in the area,
giving guidance and aid with establishing a new business. If you are interested,
contact Martin Roche, Director at Folkestone Enterprise Gateway, The Glassworks,
Millbay, phone 223239, e-mail martin@folkestonegateway.com, or visit the website
on www.folkestonegateway.com
Diana Crampton
Article from Go Folkestone Newsletter March 2007
