Practical support for entrepreneurs and new business start-ups on courses at the Eastern Enterprise Hub.

The Eastern Enterprise Hub is encouraging start-ups in Suffolk to become more entrepreneurial through its Suffolk Entrepreneurs Programme called ‘Grow Your Future’.

It is a free course fully funded by Suffolk County Council and supported by Easton & Otley College and the East of England Co-op.

The programme, which is due to start in June, provides business support to Suffolk-based entrepreneurs who run rural enterprises throughout the county.

Digby Chacksfield, chief executive at the Eastern Enterprise Hub said: “We’re delighted to be working with Suffolk County Council again to deliver this much needed support programme for Suffolk entrepreneurs and early stage start-ups.

“Rural enterprises come in all shapes and sizes. They could be a carer, a caterer, a market trader, work in tourism, own a smallholding or have their own cottage industry.

“We are here to help transform their ideas into start-ups or take their enterprises to the next level using our unique style of learning as well as help with developing softer skills such as resilience and confidence building.”

Among those who have successfully developed their businesses after completing the Grow Your Future Programme include the Gadd Brothers, a tree surgery and landscaping business based in Great Barton near Bury St. Edmunds.

Founded by brothers James and Will Gadd, the business has now expanded into other areas including firewood, timber buildings and machinery sales.

Will Gadd talking of his time on the Grow Your Future Programme, said “The mentoring during this programme helped us think more about our company from a business point of view as we never had a plan as such - other than making sure our turnover increased every year.”

In addition to the learning sessions, the Hub also arranges for local experts and business contacts to come and talk face-to-face with the cohort giving them the opportunity to share their business experience and answer questions from the floor.

To find out more about the Grow Your Future Programme, visit the Eastern Enterprise Hub’s website www.eehub.co.uk or call 01473 527100.

The Eastern Enterprise Hub is a social enterprise organisation and the leading provider of entrepreneurial support programmes in the East of England. It was set up by the private and public sector community in 2011 to offer in depth support to new entrepreneurs.

To date it has supported over 1,000 entrepreneurs who have driven business growth and employment across the East of England, through the creation of new enterprises and social enterprises.