Yorkshire Housing wants to support customers to get working.
In the past we have pointed you in the direction of work clubs, work placements or free training opportunities. As well as continuing to do that, now we can support you into self employment.
In the summer, we welcomed Nicola Flett to the Yorkshire Housing team as our Business Enterprise Coach. A specialist in helping customers to set up their own businesses or social and community enterprises,
Nicola will provide a free service offering confidential advice and support and will suggest great training and networking opportunities to make sure that your business gets off the ground.
Nicola said:
“Turning your business idea into reality can be exciting and rewarding but also very daunting. Full of challenges, it can feel like you are on your own and don’t know which way to turn.
I can be there to support you on your journey into self-employment and will continue to be there for advice and support once you are trading.
I will be able to give you one-to-one advice, exploring your idea, including researching your market, business planning and raising finance. I hope to hold surgeries in the community to give you more ideas of what options are available, hook you up with other businesses in your neighbourhood and point you in the direction for training courses in book keeping, using social networking and trading on the internet.”
As well as this new service, we also have a few properties that we call Live/Work Homes, which are ideal for customers who are self employed or who want to run a business from home.
The homes are oversized, with extra space that can be used as a workshop or office.
Customer Mark has lived in one of these homes for a year.
“The past year has been successful because of the way we’ve been able to run our business. The space in the home means that we now have a dedicated office and can offer our customers a wider range of products.
“Running your own business is hard work and financially difficult but it does give you great flexibility and freedom. I love what I do and love knowing that whatever success we have has come from us and our hard work.”
If you would like to set up your own business like Mark, if you have an idea for a community enterprise, or if you are fed up of being unemployed and would like to see what else is available, Yorkshire Housing’s Business Enterprise Service could be for you. Contact Nicola on 07584 312 092.
The service will concentrate on the Sheffield and Barnsley areas to begin with but Nicola can support you wherever you live in Yorkshire.
In Bradford, we are working with Bradford Kickstart to support customers to set up their own business or social enterprise.
If you live in Bradford and would like to know more about self-employment, contact our Community Development Advisor Shazad Kibria on 01274 203573.