The Eastern Enterprise Hub is supporting an event in Ipswich later this week which aims to guide students who are thinking about becoming self-employed following their studies.

Go Solo, organised by University Campus Suffolk together with Ipswich-based insurance broker PolicyBee, is being held on Thursday, April 7, in the foyer of the UCS Waterfront building.

During the event, from noon to 3pm, students will be able to drop in and speak to businesses and organisations providing advice and support on going freelance.

The Eastern Enterprise Hub, also based on the Waterfront, a short distance from UCS, will be providing in-depth entrepreneurial support at the event, alongside Colchester-based Browser Media which will be offering marketing advice, Ensors Chartered Accountants which will be advising on finance, and Ashtons Legal, which will be advising on the legal issues of self-employment. There will also be a number of local freelancers on hand to share their experiences with students.

Kim Trotter, learning manager at the Eastern Enterprise Hub, said: “In February, Ipswich was named as one of the top 10 places in Europe to invest in business. We believe that supporting local graduate entrepreneurs will help invest in Ipswich’s future, by ensuring that local talent needn’t go further afield to seek the rewarding careers they deserve.”

The Eastern Enterprise Hub is a leading provider of support for new entrepreneurs in the East of England. It is a not-for-profit organisation and was set up by the private and public sector community in 2011, since when it has supported 852 entrepreneurial individuals who have driven business growth and employment across the East of England through the creation of new enterprises

PolicyBee, which specialises in providing professional indemnity insurance for freelancers, small businesses and entrepreneurs, has worked with the Business School at UCS to survey students about their opinions on going self-employed, and the support they wanted to receive at the Go Solo event.

They found that 75% of UCS students surveyed were interested in going self-employed in the future. Nearly 90% of UCS students wanted the opportunity to speak with people who have gone self-employed, and over 85% of students wanted advice on the legal requirements of setting up their own business.

Kerri-Ann Hockley, head of customer service at PolicyBee, said: “PolicyBee is committed to supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs – particularly those local to us.

“We are very pleased to have so many fellow small businesses supporting the Go Solo event. It just goes to show the feeling is mutual among local businesses. We all want to help budding entrepreneurs in our region.”

Suzanne Nolan, lecturer in employment development at UCS, added: “While UCS has a busy programme of careers events for students, this is the first time we have held an event specifically about going self-employed.

“Freelancing is a growing trend, so it makes sense that our students want to find out more about what could be a rewarding career choice for many of them. UCS students are serious about their futures, so we are glad to be able to offer them exactly the help and support they asked for in the student survey.”

For more information about the event, email Vicky Pony, marketing co-ordinator at PolicyBee – vicky.pont@policybee.co.uk