Help for jobless to start-up in business

A NEW club to support people hoping to start their own business after a period out of work was launched in Ipswich yesterday.

The Enterprise Club, which will meet monthly, is free to attend for anyone who has been out of work, whether through redundancy or for some other reason, such as taking a career break to have children.

It forms a new strand of activity for the Eastern Enterprise Hub, based in the James Hehir Building on the Ipswich Waterfront.

Celia Hodson, the hub’s chief executive, said it was receiving a growing number of inquiries from out-of-work people who fell outside the groups covered by existing activities, such as students keen to run their own business, would-be social entrepreneurs and those already running an enterprise.

The Enterprise Club was designed to fill this gap and would be supported by Jobcentre Plus in Ipswich and also by the hub’s “Enterprise Superstars” – individuals in business who have pledged to encourage and support the creation of more start-up businesses.

The club was officially launched yesterday by Ipswich MP Ben Gummer, who praised the Jobcentre Plus team for supporting the club rather than waiting for “a Whitehall initiative”.

The launch was also supported by Candice Danleigh of Jobcentre Plus and Jan Cavelle of Jan Cavelle Furniture in Haverhill, one of the Enterprise Superstars.

The club will meet on the first Friday of each month, from November 4, at the hub. To reserve a place, call 01473 527100 or visit www.eehub.co.uk .