EU-funded programme which aims to offer expert support for a new generation of entrepreneurs is one year old and has offered invaluable support to entrepreneurs in the city region. Tony McDonough reports

Liverpool city region’s Enterprise Hub has now offered export support to 100 businesses one year after it was launched.

Posh Nosh Catering Kitchen is the latest firm to complete the EU-funded programme which aims to offer expert support for a new generation of entrepreneurs.

With more than 40 years’ experience in the industry, Posh Nosh Catering Kitchen’s managing director Anthony Zausmer’s latest venture is delivered alongside his partnership with Hannah Cave from Fodder Canteen.

Expert trainers

The duo met via social media and soon launched Fodder in the heart of city’s creative hub, The Baltic Triangle, and now share the kitchen as a base for the two businesses.

Working with Enterprise Hub’s expert trainers, Posh Nosh was able to identify un-tapped opportunities within the business and re-evaluate its target market and pricing strategy.

Mr Zausmer said: “While I may have been in this industry for 40 years, it has really made me reassess. Straight after completing the programme we put our prices up, and to our surprise we had people queuing up for the food we were offering and going out of their way to come back for more.

“The course was brilliant. The trainer really made it personal and created an environment where I could say ‘actually, I realise I’ve made a mess of this’. Everyone is free to open up which is great as we could learn from one another’s businesses. The most positive part for us was being able to face up to any problems in the business in a constructive way.”

Start-up support

The Enterprise Hub coordinates and simplifies the business start-up support available across the Liverpool city region and works to support people to explore their business ideas and prepares them to get started.

City of Liverpool College is the lead and accountable body for the Enterprise Hub with The Women’s Organisation as managing agent.

Jackie Williams, enterprise director at The Women’s Organisation and Enterprise Hub programme manager, said: “This is a highly important milestone for the Enterprise Hub programme which has been instrumental in bridging the gap for those entrepreneurs who don’t know what steps to take next with their business, or perhaps need that boost to really thrive within their first year.

“We would encourage businesses from right across the region to get in touch and find out how we can help boost their business.”

Free to attend

Because the course is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, as part of Enterprise Hub, it is free to attend for anyone running a new business which has registered within the Liverpool city region over the last 12 months.

The two-day course explores how new businesses can survive and thrive in their first year. After completing the programme, participants will be able to conduct a simple business review and build out a strategic marketing and action plan.

To find out more about the programme contact the Enterprise Hub team on 0151 706 8113 or enterprisehub@thewo.org.uk