Liverpool social enterprise The Women’s Organisation and BIPC Liverpool are delivering the free Start-up Conference aimed at fledgling enterprises in the Liverpool city region

A free-to-attend online conference aimed at Liverpool city region business start-ups is being held this month.

The Start-up Conference, taking place on May 25 and delivered by Liverpool social enterprise The Women’s Organisation and BIPC Liverpool, is the first in a series of online events to help entrepreneurs get their business ventures flying.

With the UK now emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic, small businesses have a critical role to play in getting the economy back on its feet. SMEs are recognised as the main driver of the UK economy.

The event programme is part of BIPC’s Reset: Restart series, designed to help SMEs and budding business owners transform, future-proof and grow their companies through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. BIPC is based in Liverpool’s Central Library and delivers intellectual property advice and coaching sessions.

The conference will explain the best ways to tackle establishing a small business and provide connections with entrepreneurs who have already gone through the process, and even re-adapted in the face of the pandemic.

Panellists for the event include two experienced businesswomen who will share their tips and knowledge of overcoming the challenges facing a fledgling venture.

Nikki Cross is the founder of Thrive Life and Business. Since working with The Women’s Organisation she has launched two key services, her one-to-one coaching for leaders, and her membership, Thrive Together.

Nikki is also the host of The Inner Work Conversation, a podcast focusing on the stuff that makes us tick, helping business owners, leaders and founders to level up in all aspects of their life and business, drawing on her 15 years’ experience in people development.

Joining Nikki is fellow panellist Nadia Greenwood-Ftouhi, founder of Manira Palm, the ‘Home of Sustainable Tourism’. An elegant eco-villa hidden among the olive trees in a serene location with views of the Atlas Mountains, the site is just a 20-minute drive from Marrakech, in Morocco.

Nadia believes that tourism creates opportunities for a sustainable future, helping people immerse in true Moroccan culture. It is through these authentic experiences that local charities and communities are supported in Marrakech.

Her mission is to protect the planet and the people we share it with. In continuously striving to live her mission, Nadia is now developing the Manira Palm Movement – Sustainability for the Soul.

Through yoga, mindfulness and moments for the self, she guides women to heal self-limiting beliefs, believe in their power and achieve their potential.

The Start-up Conference will take place on Zoom, on Tuesday, May 25 from 11am to 12.30pm. Register via Eventbrite and a Zoom link and password will be sent to you before the event by email.

The event is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the highly-successful Enterprise Hub programme and will offer free advice and guidance to those living in the Liverpool city region considering establishing their own business, or businesses under 42 months in existence looking to grow in the Liverpool city region.