Aim the the week, which is being co-ordinated by The Women’s Organisation, is to encourage more entrepreneurs in the Liverpool city region to take a leap of faith and start their own businesses

A series of free events, seminars and workshops take place across the Liverpool city region this week as Enterprise Hub Start-Up Week gets under way.

The aim the the week, which is being co-ordinated by The Women’s Organisation, is to encourage more entrepreneurs to take a leap of faith and start their own businesses.

Women’s Organisation chief executive Maggie O’Carroll joined with Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram at Invest Sefton in Bootle to kick start the initiative.

They were joined by budding entrepreneur Dan Hennessey, founder of Crosby-based Worthy Campervan, a new start up company which imports original Volkswagen Camper vans from Brazil and refurbishes them to a high standard.  The company has received support from the  Enterprise Hub and Invest Sefton’s Growth Programme.

Dan Hennessey, founder of Crosby-based Worthy Campervan, a new start up company who import original Volkswagen Camper vans from Brazil which they refurbish to a high standard.  The company has received support from the  Enterprise Hub and Invest Sefton’s Growth Programme.

Increasing prosperity

Mr Rotheram said: “In my election manifesto I pledged to nurture a culture of entrepreneurialism, not least because of my own history of running a small business myself.

“It is also quite clear that new business start-ups are as important as large scale inward investments to growing the Liverpool city region economy and increasing our prosperity.”

The Women’s Organisation has helped more than 50,000 women to create, or improve, their own businesses since it was established in 1996.

Co-founder Ms O’Carroll added: “This collaborative approach to entrepreneurship and economic empowerment brings together organisations with a variety of expertise.

“This ensures that those interested in getting advice can link with experts who can offer them quality services.”

Events programme

Events include a flagship Start-Up Day this Thursday at Liverpool Central Library’s Business and IP (intellectual property) Centre.

The library will host talks and seminars by mentors such as Garth Dallas, a Jamaican-born British entrepreneur and lawyer as well as a Liverpool Business & IP Centre Ambassador, who will reveal ‘Five Steps for Start-Up Success’.

He will be joined by Liverpool City Council’s assistant Mayor and Mayoral Lead for Business and International Trade, Cllr Gary Millar.

Also featured during the day at the Central Library will be presentations by web giant Google on how fledgling businesses can build a social media strategy, and understand their customers.

A wide range of free events are planned across the region, from the city centre to other surrounding boroughs.

These include a drop in day at the Granby Toxteth Development Trust’s Lodge Lane offices on Tuesday (September 19) where an Enterprise Hub business adviser will be on hand to offer advice for potential start-ups, and what support they can receive.

The same day Wirral Chamber of Commerce is running a ‘Pitch Perfect Workshop’ which will provide tips on how to convert your business idea into the perfect business pitch.

On Wednesday the Chamber will offer a ‘Marketing and Social Media’ class, while later that day Alt Valley Community Trust is staging a ‘Start-Up Lite Workshop’.

Full details of the week’s events can be found by clicking here.