News: Government hears Rotherham’s business success story

Chancellor Alistair Darling and Exchequer Secretary Angela Eagle heard the Rotherham success story on encouraging and supporting start-up companies this week. It was told by the head of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council's Planning & Regeneration service, Paul Woodcock, at a prestigious national event at Number 11 Downing Street. The event marked the first Global Business Incubation Day, celebrating innovation and entrepreneurship, and the Chancellor and Ms Eagle hosted a delegation organised by the UK Business Incubation. Paul Woodcock told the gathering that the council’s regeneration arm, Rotherham Investment & Development Office, part of the service, works on a daily basis with 105 new-start businesses. It has played a part in “incubating” more than 600 new enterprises, which in turn created more than 3,000 new jobs. Ms Eagle praised the work of UKBI, marking its 10th anniversary yesterday, as well as Global Business Incubation Day - the first of its kind worldwide, and the enterprise support activities around the UK and overseas. Paul Woodcock said: "It was an excellent opportunity to get across at a national level the work we're doing in Rotherham to promote enterprise, entrepreneurs and new-start businesses. That work has won Rotherham regional and national awards, but more importantly our state-of-the art business centres are making a massive difference to people's lives and the local economy. And the companies in them are contributing to the national economy."

RiDO website
Global Business Incubation Day website
Rotherham

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News: Rotherham council chief to talk business at 11 Downing Street

A Rotherham Council chief will address a group of influential business leaders at 11 Downing Street as part of a worldwide celebration of the work done to encourage entrepreneurs. The council’s director of planning and regeneration, Paul Woodcock, will join Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury Angela Eagle and an impressive line-up of incubation experts marking Global Business Incubation Day on December 8, to tell them about Rotherham’s outstanding talent for nurturing start-up businesses. Paul Woodcock said: "I’m delighted to have been asked to talk about Rotherham’s pioneering approach to supporting businesses on a national platform. "What we have achieved in the borough over the years is impressive – and shows first hand how you can create a culture of entrepreneurialism where it scarcely existed before. "From day one we put business incubation at the forefront of our economic plan, investing in four purpose-built business centres and supporting people’s business ideas and their dreams. "Business incubation is crucial for the financial health of Britain – especially in the current economic climate. I hope we can spread the Rotherham message that incubation does work – and that it can drastically improve people’s hopes, dreams and prosperity." Also speaking will be Sir Graham Ross Russell, the chairman of UK Business Incubation (UKBI) and David Gill, managing director of St John’s Innovation Centre in Cambridge. To celebrate Global Incubation Day, business centres run by Rotherham Investment and Development Office (RiDO) will throw open their doors to offer business advice to budding entrepreneurs.

RiDO website
Rotherham

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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

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