Member Article

Support for start-ups and entrepreneurs in Oldham

A new business support scheme has been launched by Oldham Council’s Get Oldham Working programme to encourage more entrepreneurs to set up in the borough.

Oldham’s Rent Support Scheme is designed to support start-up businesses to take advantage of a number of vacant council-owned properties across the borough.

Budding enterprises will be supported with a rental subsidy for up to three years.

To be eligible for support, new businesses must have received start-up support from a range of partner agencies – including Blue Orchid or Business Growth Hub.

The scheme will offer a rent-free period of up to three months subject to a six month “easy in/out” lease.

Further rental reductions for longer periods are available for retail and industrial businesses which may be able to benefit from the Oldham Enterprise Fund. This includes the opportunity to bid for funding in the form of low cost loans and small grants but also delivers high quality free business support both before and after the application*.

Councillor Shoab Akhtar, Cabinet Member for Employment and Enterprise, said: “The Rent Support Scheme has been established to help start-up businesses who have growth potential and the capacity to create additional jobs for the borough.

“There is a variety of council-owned property in the borough that would be ideal for helping businesses in their infancy get off the ground.

“We are already helping independent businesses set up through another initiative, especially in the town centre and the districts of Shaw and Lees, with an overall package totalling £1.2 million available for independent traders.

“We want to provide an attractive offer that helps start-up businesses to breathe new life into empty units.

“Our Get Oldham Working campaign doesn’t just aim to bring business to the area and provide employment opportunities for local people – we want those businesses to stay here and thrive.”

Get Oldham Working has been set up to help support local residents into sustainable employment. Its aim is to create 2,015 job-related opportunities by 2015.

The Unity Partnership manages more than 3,000 tenancies and licences on behalf of various clients, including Oldham Council, First Choice Homes Oldham, New Deal for Communities and Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .