A Liverpool city region ‘Start Up Day’ will hear Jo Fairley, co-founder of leading chocolate brand Green and Black’s, tell her inspiring entrepreneurial story. Tony McDonough reports

Sefton Park Palm House will be the venue for the Liverpool City Region Start Up Day on Wednesday.

Start Up Day is being organised by Business & IP Centre Liverpool (BIPC Liverpool). Established at Central Library in Liverpool seven years ago, BIPC offers would-be or early-stage entrepreneur access to a range of specialist support.

In September last year it opened a new base in Birkenhead Library, offering entrepreneurs access to free resources, information and advice around starting and growing their own business.

Starting at 10am and running until 2.30pm on Wednesday, February 22, Start Up Day will offer a number of expert speakers. Top of the bill is Jo Fairley, co-founder of leading chocolate brand Green and Black’s.

Jo left school at 16 with six O Levels. She went on to become the UK’s youngest-ever magazine editor. And in 1991, along with Craig Sams, she founded Green & Black’s, which set a standard for ethical trading. In 2005 it was acquired by Cadbury Schweppes.

She went on to establish herself as a serial entrepreneur, via an award-winning organic and natural food store/bakery, Judges Bakery and The Wellington Centre (a boutique nine-room wellbeing centre).

More recently she set up The Perfume Society. This sets out to help individuals develop their sense of smell via exploration of fragrance and the scented world.

Now one of the UK’s leading motivational speakers, Jo travels all over the world speaking to audiences on sustainable business, leadership, women in business, change management and entrepreneurialism.

Start Up Day is free to attend but people are asked to book by clicking here. Those attending will also hear from law firm founder and Good Business Awards organiser Garth Dallas and BBC journalist, radio presenter and entrepreneur Ngunan Adamu.

In 2022 BIPC Liverpool released figures showing that from April 2021 to March 2022 it offered support to more than 1,500 people.

This was a 39% increase on the previous year. Of those, 48% were aspiring entrepreneurs and 39% were looking to grow an existing business.

A breakdown of the data shows  71% were female, 26% were from a black, Asian and ethnic minority background and 18% had a disability. Reaching under-represented groups is one of BIPC’s key aims.