Member Article

Gentoo’s partnership push to ‘Be Your Own Boss’

Three North East Social Enterprise businesses are working together to provide ‘Be Your Own Boss’ - a business start-up and advice service set up with the help of a £1 million ERDF investment.

Together, SES (Sustainable Enterprise Strategies), social business Gentoo Group and FISCUS form a partnership to create ‘Be Your Own Boss’, a project that promises to provide users with everything they need to set up and succeed in business.

With a target of creating over 330 sustainable businesses within three years, Be Your Own Boss supports anyone considering taking the leap into self-employment. This includes free and confidential advice, support with business planning and finding start-up funding.

Peter Harrison, Deputy Director of Gentoo Living said: “We are delighted to be part of this exciting new project. Be Your Own Boss helps us to improve our customers’ Art of Living by supporting them into self-employment which, in turn, boosts the local economy.”

One of Be Your Own Boss’s most recent success stories is Linda Brown whose company ‘Apples and Pears’ sells outsize lingerie. Linda was recovering from a long-term illness and lacked confidence to take the step into full time employment so she decided to turn her business dream into a reality.

Linda said: “Be Your Own Boss helped me put my business plan into action. We looked at practical ways to give ‘Apples and Pears’ the best chance of succeeding, from creating a marketing plan based on potential customer profile to analysing my competitors in this market. I now operate both a trading and an on-line business and have quickly created a loyal customer base who are generating a huge demand for my products! To anyone wishing to explore ‘being their own boss,’ I’d recommend giving the team a call.”

Mark Heskett, Saddington Director at SES said: “The project has already created 78 new business start-ups. This is a brilliant example of how three Wearside social enterprises are working together in order to get local people starting their own business with help of ERDF.”

People using this service will also be able to access free master classes and networking opportunities designed to assist in the development of their business. For free and confidential advice or for more information on starting your own business and becoming your own boss, contact the team at:

SES – 0191 515 5500

Gentoo – 0191 525 5000

FISCUS – 0191 565 7605

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Laura Facey .