Showing enterprise at the Enterprise Show
Business is going really well, I’ve been in talks with potential investors and they’re really interested in putting money into the company. On top of that I’ve just started doing some consultancy work, I take great pleasure in helping find solutions to the problems of other companies.
Without the help I received when ‘Don’t Weed it, Gel it’ was just a concept, the business might not be where it is now. The help, advice and support I was given by Business Link and the Business Advice Centre really helped get my business off the ground. That’s why whenever possible I try and share the knowledge and skills I’ve learnt with potential business start-ups.
I was a role model at the recent York Enterprise Show. This gave me the opportunity to impart my knowledge to the people who need and want it most. I was one of the many entrepreneurs on hand to offer help, advice and guidance. It was the third year I’ve attended the Enterprise Show, so I knew what to expect and that I had a real opportunity to meet people who needed my help.
This year was no different, once again I met people with interesting business ideas. When I first meet people at the show they are often quite taken back by what we do and consequently I get a lot of questions about our products and how we come up with the ideas. But I try to guide them away from this line of questioning because at the end of the day they’re at the show for a reason and that’s to find out about setting up their own business and how to get their ideas off the ground. I try to find out what people want to achieve and then we can offer them useful information that will help them get started and look towards the long term.
Last month I also attended an event organised by NYBEP and hosted by Sherburn High School. The first day was attended by pupils of Sherburn and on the second day pupils from other schools arrived at the event. It was a great chance to inspire young people thinking about the possibility of starting their own business in the future.
I’d love to have a presence at enterprise events in areas such as Leeds and Hull but finding the time is virtually impossible. That’s why we’re looking to recruit a member of staff that can attend the events, carry on what I’ve been doing and build on it. Get in touch if you think you can help! info@dontweeditgelit.com
I would advise anybody thinking of starting up their own business to go along to these type of shows. They’re a one-stop-shop for all the people you should be speaking to, such as The Prince’s Trust and Business Link. You could find all these people elsewhere but it would take a long time and even then it might be harder to get in touch with them than it would be face-to-face at the show.
I attended enterprise shows as a member of the public before I had even begun trying to get my business started. In the back of mind I always knew I wanted to start a business and going to those shows gave me some of the knowledge, skills, and contacts I needed to get started. When I had the idea for ‘Don’t Weed it, Gel it’ I already had a basic knowledge of how to move it forward and get started.
