New NES course starts in Skelmersdale

The North West NES programme for which MMU Business School is the regional contractor, and which is run through the Centre for Enterprise, is now the largest region in England for NES, with over 500 places on NES courses available during 2007 and 2008 - thanks to 20 new scholarships in West Lancashire.

NES is the New Entrepreneur Scholarship programme. Edge Hill University and West Lancashire District Council have joined the growing ranks of organisations in the North West offering NES programmes to keen local entrepreneurs to help them launch their own business in West Lancashire.

Plans are underway to run a new scheme in Skelmersdale from a local community centre with facilities for entrepreneurs to include IT, support from mentors, role models, advisers, and help from local financial organisations.

The team organising the new NES programme includes Alice Grieve, Business Development Adviser at West Lancashire District Council; and Dr Penny West, Co-ordinator Postgraduate Programmes and Richard Choueke, Knowledge Transfer and Commercial Services, both at Edge Hill University.

“We’re delighted to launch NES here in West Lancashire,” says Alice. “NES offers a practical programme of help and support to get people started in business, and helps them develop business skills. Successful graduates can also apply for up to £1,500 in start-up support funding.”

She added: “NES can bring a lot of benefits to our part of the North West, as it has done in other areas. It addresses the needs of the most disadvantaged areas, such as those in Skelmersdale. NES offers a flexible package tailored to meet the needs of individual clients. It gives people a genuine opportunity to become self employed, including people who are on benefits, and that’s a real bonus.”

“Recruitment of entrepreneurs for the course has started already,” explains Alice. “We’ve been raising awareness of NES across our district, and hope that applications will start coming through in September. We aim to start the course in October.

“We currently have 12 entrepreneurs on the waiting list, including a joiner, photographer and a sales assistant so it looks like it could be a really interesting mix of people and businesses - which is just what we want!”


If you or someone you know is interested in starting a new business in West Lancashire, contact:

• Alice Grieve, Business Development Adviser at West Lancashire District Council on: 01695 712641 or alice.grieve@westlancsdc.gov.uk
• Dr Penny West, Coordinator Postgraduate Programmes, Edge Hill University on westp@edgehill.ac.uk
• Richard Choueke, Knowledge Transfer and Commercial Services, Edge Hill University on 01695 584391 or choueker@edgehill.ac.uk