Education Business Partnership to create jobs at new Accrington base

Three friends who teamed up to launch a new business in 2015 are planning to take their venture to the next level with a raft of new employees.

The Education Business Partnership (NW), established by Emma Woan, Tracy Gardiner and Linda Taylor, is set to create four new jobs over the next 12 months.

The firm recently moved into a new office in Oswaldtwistle, Accrington, having previously operated out of Emma’s kitchen.

The Education Business Partnership (NW) came to fruition after the trio, who worked together in various roles over the years, decided to set up their own venture that helps young people improve their employability and develop essential life skills.

At the time, Emma worked freelance while Tracy and Linda had both been made redundant.

To get the company off the ground, the three friends received support from Boost Business Lancashire’s Growth Support Programme.

Emma said: “The changing landscape in the world of work was what made us think about setting up on our own, we had this idea and we thought if we don’t do it then somebody else will.

“None of us have ever ran our own business before and really the only professional guidance we had prior to the support from Boost was our accountant.”

She continued: “Over this past year we’ve often found ourselves absorbed in the passion of starting our own business, but the Growth Support Programme has enabled us to develop a plan to focus on the priorities for growing the business.”

Linda commented: “As a team it was very beneficial for us all to be able to attend the master classes giving us time to reflect and bounce ideas off each other.”

The programme is delivered by business consultants Winning Pitch and Enterprise4all.

Rona McFall, Winning Pitch’s head of entrepreneurial solutions, said: “Emma, Tracy and Linda have put their all into creating this business and it’s already proving to be a success and we’re pleased to have been able to support them on this journey and help them put the best strategy in place to achieve their goals.”

Boost, the name for the Lancashire Business Growth Hub, is led by the Lancashire LEP and county council and backed with funding from the European Regional Development Fund.

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