News: Kickstart for Rotherham entrepreneurs

Fledgling businesses in Rotherham are being helped by UK Steel Enterprise, the Corus Group regeneration finance arm.

An initial £40,000 is being injected into the town's business scene through their new Kickstart Fund providing small grants of up to £500 to new entrepreneurs.

Keith Williams, Regional Manager of UK Steel Enterprise said: "We want to encourage entrepreneurship in Rotherham.

"Our new Kickstart Fund is aimed at helping up to 100 new businesses in the next 12 months. It will fill a financial gap in existing provision for small start-up enterprises and should help those who are struggling to get their businesses up and running.

"By reducing the barriers to starting a business we hope to provide a boost to job creation."

The new scheme is accessed through Rotherham Investment and Development Office (RIDO) and their small team of Business Community Support Officers with referrals also coming from the Rotherham Chamber of Commerce.

Interest is already coming from former Corus workers who have decided to start their own businesses. One is Lee Guilliam, a crane driver at Aldwarke until July this year, who has started a mini skip hire business.

Geoff Link, project manager at RIDO, said: "With the recent downturn affecting our local industry quite heavily we welcome this new initiative from UK Steel Enterprise.

"Our business coaches are looking at eligible new business ventures and are putting forward potential candidates for grants."

Over 100 enquiries have been made about the scheme in three months.

UK Steel Enterprise website
Rotherham Investment and Development Office
Rotherham

Images: UKSE