News: Budding Rotherham entrepreneurs urged to test drive their ideas

Rotherham’s budding entrepreneurs will have a rare chance to ‘test drive’ their business ideas as part of a worldwide event on December 8. Around 50 nations have signed up to take part in the first Global Business Incubation Day, which aims to celebrate innovation and entrepreneurship. It will also turn the spotlight on the importance of co-ordinated support that helps new enterprises grow and flourish. Rotherham Investment & Development Office (RiDO), the council’s regeneration arm, is throwing open the doors of its three start-up centres to give people the opportunity to discover for themselves what it’s like to run your own business. On December 8, Century Business Centre, Moorgate Crofts and Fusion@Magna will be open to the public. People will be able to go on a guided tour of the premises to check out available office space as well as talk to centre staff, business advisers and business owners. Amanda Parris, business centres manager, said: "Our experience tells us that there is an enormous amount of talent within the borough but that sometimes people are afraid to trust their instincts and set up on their own – often they don’t know how to take the first step. "We thought that Global Incubation Day provided us with a great chance to overcome some of the obstacles and encourage potential entrepreneurs of all ages to think seriously about turning their idea into a commercial business. By opening up our centres and making sure that experienced advisers are around to listen and give advice we hope to give people a real insight into what working for yourself is really like." Global Business Incubation Day is being pioneered by UKBI, the UK’s principal and successful authority on incubation, incubation development and good practice.
RiDO website

Global Incubation Day website
Rotherham