New business set to get up and running thanks to advice line

Categorized | Public Sector, Staffordshire Business News

New business set to get up and running thanks to advice line

Posted on 02 July 2012.

A Staffordshire couple is hoping to have a new business venture up and running over the next few months after obtaining essential guidance through an advice line set up by the Local Enterprise Partnership.

The Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Business Helpline – 0300 111 8002 – has been helping hundreds of callers get the advice they need to set up a business or expand an existing company. It is a six-month pilot scheme which could be made permanent after it has been evaluated.

David and Vicky Wright from Werrington in the Staffordshire Moorlands want to turn their interest in keeping ponies into a business selling them and offering advice to customers. They have kept ponies for their daughters and spotted a gap in the market for people wanting to purchase the animals and benefit from continued expert advice.

Both have the enthusiasm and drive to set up the business, but David said there were many things they were unaware of in terms of starting one up.
Vicky had heard of the Stoke-on-Trent Staffordshire Business Helpline after one call had arranged a meeting where she and David could build on their idea and take it forward. They were able to take on board the advice from Business Initiative in Stoke-on-Trent, an organisation which helps start-up companies get off the ground.

David said: “There are other businesses we know of which deal with bigger horses but we noticed a gap in the market for buying smaller animals more suitable for children.
“There is more to suiting a customer to the right kind of pony than some people may realise – tailoring the horse to its owner can take time and a good understanding of the pony is essential.
“However we needed sound advice to get us to the next stage and the Staffordshire Business Helpline enabled us to do this.
“Our initial meeting at Business Initiative resulted in us understanding what we need to be considering; from whether we should be a sole trader, partnership or limited company to registering our company with the HMRC and considering liability insurance.
“We are now really hoping we can get our new business venture off the ground within the next few months.”

LEP chairman Maitland Hyslop said: “It’s pleasing to see that our business helpline is making a real difference and giving people the essential advice to start an enterprise or expand it.
“I hope David and Vicky now have the confidence to go forward and get their business off the ground using their knowledge, enthusiasm and the guidance they have recently received.
“The business helpline is providing a single point of contact for entrepreneurs, avoiding any confusion or lack of clarity, which can be obstacles.
“With the right backing, new and smaller businesses in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire can help our economy continue to grow.”
The business helpline team is ready to take calls on from Monday to Thursday between 8am and 8pm, Friday from 8am to 6pm and Saturday 9am to 5pm.

This article was posted by Staffordshire County Council.