Young businesses get a leg-up

3:55pm Tuesday 18th October 2005

NEW businesses are being given a raft of help to get them off to a great start.

One of the classiest scholarships, worth £3,000, is offered by Cranfield School of Management and Grant Thornton, designed to jump start ambitious young businesses and their owners.

Jim Rogers, Head of Growth and Strategic Services at Grant Thornton said: "We are delighted that we can help our clients develop their businesses and themselves. This unique programme is invaluable for those who own businesses as it gives them time to develop their thinking and skills, a process to develop a robust strategy, and the confidence and support to make crucial changes in the business in order to realise significant returns on investment."

The Business Growth and Development programme helps participants analyse their businesses, identify revenue sources, develop a three-year growth strategy and plan for change.

BGP is open to owner managers and MDs of businesses which have been in operation for a minimum of three years and have a turnover of between £0.5m and £20m. Free briefing events are being held at Cranfield on November 8 and London on November 14.

To register visit www.som.cranfield. ac.uk/som/groups/enterprise/credo/ briefing.asp or call Michelle Kent on 01234 754312.

In a separate initiative, NatWest Bank and Thames Valley Business Advisors are expanding their joint venture of management and financial guidance for start-ups following a recent successful trial in the Maidenhead area.

The programme is designed to give young businesses a package of assistance in the crucial "set-up" stage.

"New owners may know their core business, but there are dozens of other issues such as cash flow and funding, marketing, sales and red tape, which will have to be dealt with if they are to succeed.

The programme aims to assist new businesses in getting off to a flying start with good habits early in their lives," said Mike Phillips, director of TVBA.

The TVBA and NatWest initiative supplies a start-up health check, one-page business plan, telephone hotline for business advice and a range of preferential banking facilities.

An optional Business Service Pack, providing access to a range of necessities such as stationery, website development, phone and fax services is available.

Details of the scheme are available from local NatWest branches as well as the Thames Valley Business Advisors network at www. tvba.co.uk