A week-long drive to encourage more new businesses across Merseyside starts next Monday, September 18.

Start-Up Week has been organised by Enterprise Hub, the enterprise gateway for business start-up support across the Liverpool City Region.

It will offer a vast range of free support to inspire more people to set up their own ventures, and help existing small businesses to expand and thrive.

Events are planned throughout the region, including a flagship Start-Up Day on Thursday, September 21 at Liverpool Central Library’s Business and IP (intellectual property) Centre.

This will coincide with a national programme taking place in other cities, including London, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle, bringing together expertise and local entrepreneurs who will offer help and advice on making a success as a small enterprise.

Liverpool is part of the British Library’s co-branded network of 11 Business and IP Centres offering the same services to entrepreneurs.

Between June 2013 and March 2015, this network helped create 1,692 new businesses and 4,178 jobs, projected to rise to 4,179 new businesses and 22,092 jobs by 2018.

Liverpool Central 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. The day will close with a presentation by Homebaked, the Anfield co-operative bakery owned and operated by people who live and work in the Anfield area.

Excitingly, there will also be presentations from web giant Google on how fledgling businesses can build a social media strategy, and understand their customers.

Cllr Millar said: “It’s going to be a real pleasure for me to help kickstart Liverpool’s Start-Up Day 2017.

“I’m also happy to report that our growing group of mentors will join me in a day of free workshops, talks and events to give you the know-how to turn your great ideas into a business.

“Hear from experienced entrepreneurs, make your business idea a reality and learn how to stand out from the online crowd, raise finance for your business, and much more.”

“You’ll have the chance to meet like-minded people and talk to seasoned business experts and entrepreneurs.”

There are a range of events planned across the city region between September 18-22.

These include ‘Is Freelancing for Me?’ – an event hosted by The Women’s Organisation at its St James Street headquarters on the morning of Monday, September 18 and is aimed at encouraging more female entrepreneurs.

Full details of the week-long programme can be found here: http://enterprisehubuk.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/enterprise-hubs-start-up-week-18th-22nd.html