Budding entrepreneurs with disabilities are being offered the chance to learn vital business skills in a new course aimed at helping disabled people become self-employed.
The ‘Starting in Business’ programme is a short course run by De Montfort University (DMU) in Leicester. The course was piloted in April and is now being repeated next month due to high demand.
The programme is designed to provide business start-up support to disabled people in the East Midlands, covering key issues such as how to write a business plan, finance, sales, marketing and business growth. It is funded by the European Social Fund, and supported by the East Midlands Development Agency (EMDA).
Leicester woman Louise Westley is a DMU graduate who attended the pilot course. She set up her own company, Freedom Link, which helps disabled students to gain qualifications.
“When I started my business there was very little support and advice which meant learning things the hard way,” she said. “Attending this course has been extremely useful, I gained a fantastic amount of information that I've used on a day-to-day basis in my business.”
Stuart Hartley, project manager for Business Incubation and Enterprise at DMU, said: “This is a great opportunity for entrepreneurs in the region to gain the basic skills and knowledge needed to set up and run a business, giving them the best chance of success.”
For more information on the course contact ceo@dmu.ac.uk or visit www.dmu.ac.uk/ceo.
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