Published Friday, 23rd July 2021
Have you been sleeping on a business idea, but have not had the funding, support, or know-how to make it a reality?
Reigate & Banstead Borough Council’s Entrepreneur Academy is the perfect opportunity to guide you through the early stages of establishing your business – and could even see you win up to £5,000 to make your idea a reality.
Cintia Yankelvich, winner of Entrepreneur Academy 2021, founder of Vegan Crazy
Starting in September, the Entrepreneur Academy is a six-month course to give residents an opportunity to gain the essential skills needed to set up a business; which includes business planning, finance, marketing, networking, business law, and online business promotion.
The course ends with a special ‘Dragon’s Den’ style competition, where entrants pitch their business proposals to a panel of established local business leaders for a chance to win £5,000 in funding.
The free scheme, which has run in partnership with hosts East Surrey College for several years, is a cornerstone of the Council’s commitment to support small businesses in the borough and increase the birth and survival rates of local enterprise.
The Academy is an unmissable opportunity to learn from some of the best business minds in Surrey. By holding face-to-face sessions at the Academy, entrants will grow in ability alongside each other, gaining invaluable contacts for the future and supporting each other on their business journey.
Cintia Yankelvich, founder of Vegan Crazy and winner of the Entrepreneur Academy 2021, said: “I joined the Academy with the hope of sorting out my business plan – never in a million years did I expect to win! I really enjoyed working with such a warm and supportive group of fellow entrepreneurs. If you have an idea, go for it!”
Dan Reynolds from RH Networking, who took part in the 2021 Academy, said: “If you are new to being self-employed and want to learn about all the things you need to do, then this programme is definitely for you. Not only will you gain valuable information from the expert speakers, but you will meet other like-minded new business owners and find that you have a ready-made network of people to bounce ideas off and to get advice from."
Places for the next intake are already filling up fast, so to avoid disappointment please register your interest to make sure you don’t miss this fantastic opportunity.
The Academy is open to anyone with a new business idea who lives in the borough of Reigate & Banstead and is aged over 18.
Sessions will start on Thursday 16 September at East Surrey College with two-hour sessions once a month for six months.
Face-to-face tuition is subject to the Government’s guidelines at the time.
To apply or find out more, visit our website.