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PRESS RELEASE
5 August 2010

HELPING HAND FOR NEW BUSINESSES

A group of people who are each taking their first steps on the path to self-employment have been given a boost by a new Penzance-based course specially designed to help them succeed in their new business.

A painter and decorator, a complementary therapist, and a proof-reader were among the group who signed up for the 10 weekly workshops which were run free of charge by Penwith Community Development Trust’s Skills Centre, with funding from Cornwall Works.

They all agree that the Plan to Succeed in Self Employment course has been a great help to them.

Paul Carter, who lives in Gulval, and has launched Compass, a musical instrument teaching agency for schools, said: “I was about to start my business, so the timing couldn’t have been better. The course gave me confidence, direction, and the skills to make it happen.”

Paul Carter, creator of new company Compass

The course, at PCDT’s base, the Penwith Centre in Parade Street, aimed to provide participants with a toolkit to help them tackle tasks such as registering with HM Revenue and Customs; money management; organisation and action planning; insurance; researching sources of funding; and producing advertising materials.

They also had the opportunity to take other linked courses provided by the Skills Centre, including business start-up, bookkeeping and numeracy. “I liked the fact that it all came as a package,” said Paul, who previously worked at Cornwall Council.  “PCDT gave me the solution to everything I was looking for.”

Paul has already recruited a team of music tutors, and in readiness for the new academic year in September, is now contacting schools across Cornwall to let them know about the service he can offer.

Looking Good is the name chosen by Sean George from Newlyn for his painting and decorating business – and that certainly describes how he feels about his future since he completed the course.

“I’d done different jobs,” he said. “I’d always enjoyed painting and decorating, and I wanted to go to college to retrain, but the nearest course was in Exeter.”

Students on the self-employment course

Sean decided to take the plunge and start his own business. But he knew he needed help to deal with finance and paperwork, and was delighted to discover the new course.

He said: “This course has really boosted my confidence. It made me realise that if you really want to have a go at something, you should.”

Jackie Harvey, a healer and Indian head massage therapist, worked in Morocco before she moved to Penzance. “I didn’t have a clue how to run a business in this country,” she admits. “I’ve found this course really useful.”

Other beneficiaries of the programme include Abigail Cullen, a former physiotherapist who took early retirement for health reasons, and is now training to become a freelance proof-reader; and Truwork Mekbib-Noonan, who plans to make use of her contacts in her native Ethiopia to set up an online business importing ethical products from the developing world.

Course tutor Sarah Alexander said: “It’s good to have the opportunity to link real people up with real training and support, and to offer it all under one roof in their locality.

“It’s been inspiring to see some people progress to successful self-employment during the course.”

PCDT employment advisor Liz Sullivan said that due to the success of this first course, more are now being planned. 

Anyone interested in finding our more about the course can contact the Skills Centre 01736 332772.

For more information about Compass, call Paul on 07999 617133 or visit www.cmpss.co.uk.  For more information about Looking Good, call Sean on 07881 665377

For further information, contact the Skills Centre on 01736 332772

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