A unique, free business school that gives participants the tools to start their own business without capital or funding is touring Wales for the first time from May to July this year.
The PopUp Business School tour of Wales will visit Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, Bridgend and Merthyr Tydfil and is open to anyone, free of charge, wanting to start their own business. The course is being run in partnership with local councils and housing associations. The life-changing training course provides participants with the support and tools to start a business as well as the confidence to make the first step.
Simon Paine, The PopUp Business School, co-founder, says
“We are giving local people the tools to change their own world. Our approach is anything but traditional. We have our own unconventional model for supporting businesses that doesn’t involve a business plan. 30% of the people that come on our course start their business before the end of the workshop and 27% make their first sale. Anyone who would like to learn new skills, who has a business idea or a fledgling business can book a place on the course and will take home with them practical advice, training and a clear way forward.”
The PopUp Business School, which is being delivered across the UK, helps potential entrepreneurs, small businesses and start-ups take their businesses towards their first sale. Thetraining schedule includes a mix of practical sessions, one-to-one coaching, workshop sessions and peer support. Workshops topics include starting a business without investment, sales and marketing, building a free website and finding customers.
Carolyn Harris, MP for Swansea East, where an event is taking place, said:
“Small businesses are vital for the Welsh economy as research shows that for every £1 spent with a small or medium-size business, 63p is re-spent in the local area- compared to 40p in every £1 spent with a chain or larger business. I try to support small businesses as much as possible to ensure that the money stays within our local economy.”
The PopUp Business School has already been successful in Newport where it has visited four times. This year, it will be visiting Cardiff, Swansea, Bridgend and Merthyr Tydfil for the first time.
For the first time, the PopUp Business School will visit Cardiff with two weeks of training from Monday 14th May to Friday 25th May at St David’s Housein the city centre. The tour will also be in Swansea from Monday 14th to Friday 18th May at Parc TaweRetail Park and then Merthyr Tydfil from Tuesday 29th to Thursday 31stMay. It arrives in Newport for two weeks from Monday 4th to Friday 15th June at Newport Market. It will then heads to Bridgendfrom Monday 18th to Friday 29th June at Bridgend Life Centre.Other locations are also to be confirmed.
The PopUp Business School is available free of charge to participants through sponsorship and funding from Cardiff City Council, Swansea Council, Newport City Council and Bridgend Council; Cadwyn Housing, Wales and West Housing, Coastal Housing and Valley 2 Coast Housing; Wates Construction, Pobl Group,and Hammerson Plc, owners of Parc Tawe Retail Park, and Cyfartha Retail Park, Merthyr Tydfil.
To book a free place on the PopUp Business School training in any of the Wales locations, visit www.popupbusinessschool.co.uk/events
