“
YorkSHIrE Forward wErE BrIllIanT, THEY gavE uS
“
THE advIcE and THE FInancIal BackIng To BuY THE
coMPanY and ModErnISE IT. wE HavE SIncE THEn
IncrEaSEd THE TurnovEr SIx-Fold
business questions and development needs. We can then broker the participants in the business development process to support early
in specialists from the most appropriate providers of business stage companies and helps to unlock the full potential of technology
support to provide relevant solutions.
businesses in the region. Its vision is to strengthen and accelerate
“We can also help people to understand the different legislation
growth in the technology sector.
including registration, tax and a whole host of other topics which
McWhirter explains: “Companies pass through an investment
a young business may find daunting when starting out or in its
readiness programme delivered through seminars. The business
early stages of development.”
has to identify and eradicate potential weak points before it can
O’Dor also champions the popular Enterprise Shows, which inspire
move on to the next stage: pitching for equity. We host investor
people to set up in business and take place in early spring each year
forums where potential investors are pitched to, with the success
across the region. The first show will be in York in mid-March, with
rate so far being around 25 per cent.”
It’s not only the mainstream start-ups that get support. To help
other shows in Leeds, Hull and Sheffield.
get more innovation out of the region’s universities, the Yorkshire
“Last year we had a record number of people attending to find
Enterprise Fellowship offers up to £10,000 to help university
out how to start up in business,” says O’Dor. “Since our launch
researchers create a business based on their studies. It provides
in April we have worked with
access to a fully-managed proof of concept support scheme,
thousands of pre-start and
offering a tailored science and business development programme.
start-up businesses and we are
This and all other types of business finance can be accessed via
committed to helping to create
Business Link.
opportunities and avenues for new
enterprises to grow and flourish.”
www.businesslink.gov.uk/yorkshire
Week, which is supported by Yorkshire Forward and the Young
People’s Enterprise Forum – the organisation created to inspire
PROTOTYPE FOR SUCCESS
youngsters in business. One highlight was the Real Business
Start up Prototype Creative,
Challenge, a competition won this year by enterprising youngsters
winner of the Rotherham Young
from Brigshaw High School in Castleford. They created a new
Entrepreneur Awards, is one
EnTErPrISIng
soft drink for the 2012 Olympics in the contest supported by
example, founded by Gavin Winder
ScarBorougH!
Coca-Cola Enterprises.
and Joshua Abbotts, pictured
The event, now in its fourth year, began with 82 schools from
right. This design company,
There are many sources of support to help enterprising
across Yorkshire and Humber submitting a presentation pitch
based at Century Business
activity, which needs to be maintained, particularly in the
to launch the Olympics in Yorkshire. McWhirter is keen to add:
Centre, is currently expanding
current climate. Yorkshire and Humber’s people and places
“Of course, enterprise takes place 52 weeks of the year – not
into a new division called already have an abundance of enterprising spirit to build
just during Enterprise Week.”
Prototype Displays to market on, as evidenced when Scarborough was recently named
a range of exhibition material. the most enterprising place in Britain.
ADVICE ON HAND
They explain why they both left ‘decent’ jobs to go into business:
The town, which was representing Yorkshire and Humber,
The second part of the enterprise agenda involves giving
“Maybe it was because we just ran out of reasons why not to. We
beat 12 other applicants that represented other areas of
would-be entrepreneurs advice and support, which is where
realised that we had a lot going for us and there was no reason why
Britain to take the top honour.
Business Link has a crucial role, as Jules O’Dor, director of
we couldn’t deliver an excellent service to clients. We were both well
Having won the accolade, Scarborough now enters the
enterprise services for Business Link Yorkshire, explains:
qualified and experienced in our particular fields and were confident
2009 Most Enterprising Place in Europe competition, which
“We have a dedicated team of 50 business advisors in our
that our ability, creativity and passion would allow us to win and keep
will be judged over the early months of 2009. Finalists will
customer information centre, so if people call for any advice business. The fact that we can be our own boss is also attractive.” be declared at a gala night in Prague in May 2009.
surrounding starting a business we can get them off to a good The judges at the Rotherham Young Entrepreneur Awards
Scarborough’s reputation as a centre of entrepreneurial
start. Our advisers take calls from right across Yorkshire and agr
excellence was also boosted when it hosted the

eed – “good growth to date and future potential” they said.
Humber and offer practical advice, business information and
International Business Forum 2008 – a two-day event which
MONEY WHERE IT MATTERS
the key support needed to help businesses along the way.
well and truly put the town, and the region, on the map.
Finally, access to suitable finance is vital to keeping enterprise in the
Our events team also operates in the centre and can book
To be home to the most enterprising place in Britain is a
region running at full speed. One important concept here is investment
entrepreneurs and businesses onto a wide variety of free
great acknowledgment of the entrepreneurial history and
workshops and seminars which can help them to focus on their
readiness – supporting companies to strengthen their managerial
present day enterprise in Yorkshire and the Humber. To be
business issues. If more support is needed, we have a team of
team and business plans to be able to put a proposition forward to benchmarked as the best in Europe would be the icing on
business advisors that meet with businesses one to one to discuss
would-be investors.
the entrepreneurial cake.
Connect Yorkshire, supported by Yorkshire Forward, brings together
PAGE 17
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24