Starting a business
Meet Faye
Ready to turn your business idea into reality?
As the help desk manager and pre-start specialist, I am here to support budding entrepreneurs like you.
From crafting business plans to securing funding, finding mentorship, and mastering the essentials of business operations, I’ve got you covered.
Whether you’re just starting out or need guidance along the way, let’s have a chat. Together, we’ll navigate the journey of entrepreneurship and set you on the path to success. Get in touch today and let’s kickstart your entrepreneurial journey!
Talk to me to get your business started.
What do you want to learn about?
- I have a business idea but don’t know where to start
- I want to write a business plan
- I want to understand the legal requirements when starting a business
- I want to find out where I can get funding for my new business
- I want to learn more about marketing and sales
- I want to make sure my new business is sustainable
Starting a new business venture is full of rewards but invariably it also comes with risks. It is important to evaluate yourself and what you want from your business, as well as do your research and develop a plan. Preparing thoroughly will put you in a strong position if you need secure any type of finance for your business and will help you maintain focus. However, it is also crucial to be mentally prepared for thing to go off track at times. Building in a degree of flexibility will enable you can adapt to any changing circumstances.
Whether it is as obvious as creating a name for your business or more unclear tasks such as what structure would be right for you, we can help. We provide a range of resources, tools and guides designed to get you underway and save you time.
In addition, we can answer some of the common questions that you may have and point you in the right direction if you need additional support or training. Regardless of the sector that you’re looking to operate in or the size of your ambitions for your new business, we have something for you.
Get started with starting your business
A business plan will help clarify your aims for the business, as well as the tactics and strategies to achieve them.
How do you get started with marketing your business? Get the basics of a sales and marketing plan in place.
What do you need to make sure you’re doing when setting up a business to comply with laws and regulations?
Building a sustainable business
Sustainability needs to be at the heart of every new business. Here’s how to set off on the right path from the beginning.
You may need funding to make your business idea a reality. Here’s how you get started.
Learning about running a business
There are many courses available to learn the essentials of starting and running a business.
Secure your place: Business Support Programmes 2024
The Growth Hub is hard at work curating a new package of business support programmes for 2024. The programmes will be available to businesses located in North Yorkshire, funded by North Yorkshire Council’s Shared Prosperity Fund.
Growth Hub Welcomes New Business Advisors for North Yorkshire
We are delighted to announce the addition of three new team members who will play a crucial role in supporting local businesses and entrepreneurs as business advisors for North Yorkshire.
The legal requirements for starting a business
The legal requirements for starting a business can seem intimidating...
How to write a good business plan
Organisations such as the Start-Up Loan Company...
Launch Your Start-up with Award-Winning Support
We are calling on budding entrepreneurs with a drive for success to seize an exciting opportunity and launch your start-up.
Enterprise Centre celebrated for supporting entrepreneurial talent
The York St John Enterprise Centre has been celebrated as a vital support hub for startups, creative and digital businesses, and social enterprises.
Free business advice in Settle drop-ins at Langcliffe Enterprise Centre
Entrepreneurs and business owners in Settle are in for a treat as the Langcliffe Quarry Enterprise Centre offers a remarkable opportunity: free business advice in Settle.
Four issues key to social enterprise survival
Social enterprises face a unique and complex series of issues. To ensure the long-term health and survival of your social enterprise, an understanding of these issues is vital. In this article, I will summarise four key areas you need to consider: sources of funding, governance considerations, the power of people, and sustainable growth.
Peer to peer lending Q&A
Looking for an alternative route to financing your business? Peer to peer (P2P) lending is one of the options.
Horizon Scanning: Four questions social enterprises need to answer
With so much going on in the present, it’s not always easy to look to the future. However, the identification of potential risks and opportunities is vital to the long-term health of any business, and social enterprises are no different. Horizon scanning helps in assessing whether you are adequately prepared for future changes or threats.
How has the Growth Hub helped people do business?
At the York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub, we’re supporting businesses to start, grow and scale – find out how our programmes, partnerships and teams have helped.
Connecting businesses to support in Harrogate
Businesses in Harrogate have welcomed free drop-in days which are connecting them to support and friendly, local business advice specialists.
Events
01st May 20249:00 am - 10:00 amFREE
1 May - Ian Walker: Routes to Finance for Start Ups & SME’s
Join us at the Enterprise Centre as we invite Ian Walker to deliver a support session on the best 'Routes for Finance for Start Ups & SME's.
16th May 20249:30 am - 11:00 amFREE
16 May - North Yorkshire Council: Connect Over A Cuppa
‘Connect Over A Cuppa’ Harrogate drop-in sessions help businesses to share new ideas, solve problems, and connect with like-minded businesses.
11th June 20242:00 pm - 4:00 pmFREE
11 June - Brendan Paddison: Writing A Business Plan
Join us at the Enterprise Centre as we invite Dr Brendan Paddison to deliver a support session on Writing a Business Plan. A crucial step for any new business owner and a session not to be missed when writing a clear and concise Business Plan.
11th June 20242:00 pm - 4:00 pmFREE
Young Entrepreneur Guide
Do you have a business idea? Or do you want to work for yourself? Then the Young Entrepreneur Guide is here to help you!
11th June 20242:00 pm - 4:00 pmFREE
Webinar Recording : Creating Videos for Your Business
Daniel Pingstone of Fly Flow Media recently delivered two webinars in partnership, looking at how to create videos for both products and service based businesses. In this condensed recording, Dan covers the content shared in each of those sessions.
11th June 20242:00 pm - 4:00 pmFREE
Glossary of Climate Change Terms for Businesses
A free digital glossary defining the key climate change terms relevant to businesses, to help you understand and engage with sustainability resources and support.
11th June 20242:00 pm - 4:00 pmFREE
2022 Seminar Recordings
We have recently hosted a programme of in-person seminars and other events, some of which were professionally recorded and can now be viewed on our website.
11th June 20242:00 pm - 4:00 pmFREE
Seminar Recording : Access to finance: Funding growth
This workshop will provide guidance on cost based pricing, calculating your costs before deciding an appropriate margin, as well as covering market based pricing asking questions such as: What value do you add? What are you worth? How do you position yourself?
11th June 20242:00 pm - 4:00 pmFREE
Webinar: Building the foundations
Building the foundations text with a picture of Gareth Allen on the right
11th June 20242:00 pm - 4:00 pmFREE
Seminar Recording : Access to finance: Funding growth
This seminar recording with GAP coaching will provide you with a summary of all the commercial funding options available to businesses, with details on how to make your business more attractive to funders.
11th June 20242:00 pm - 4:00 pmFREE
Seminar Recording : Menopause Wellbeing in the Workplace
This recorded seminar looks at the menopause and its impact on the people in your business, with suggestions of simple workplace adjustments to support staff experiencing menopause. Delivered by Sally Duffin of ‘Nutrition in York’
11th June 20242:00 pm - 4:00 pmFREE
Seminar Recording : Getting Stuff Done
Discover strategies to keep on top of your work and stay organised in this recorded seminar with Gareth Allen of GAP Coaching.
11th June 20242:00 pm - 4:00 pmFREE
Featured Webinar Playlist: Supercharge your start-up
Supercharge your start-up with our free webinar playlist, covering topics such as finance, marketing, networking, social media, sales and more.
11th June 20242:00 pm - 4:00 pmFREE
Funding Growth
This webinar will provide you with a summary of all the commercial funding options available to businesses, with detail on how to make your business more attractive to funders.
11th June 20242:00 pm - 4:00 pmFREE
An introduction to sales
This webinar will help you get sales confident by providing tips and guidance on mastering important communication skills.
