A new business start-up programme aiming to create 6,000 new businesses and up to 10,000 jobs across the country has been launched following a £15 million investment from the Regional Growth Fund.

A new business start-up programme aiming to create 6,000 new businesses and up to 10,000 jobs across the country has been launched following a £15 million investment from the Regional Growth Fund (RGF).

The Ready for Business programme will be run by the National Enterprise Network alongside six other enterprise support organisations.

The national programme will specifically target the transfer of public sector employment to the private sector. It will offer a package of support to help the transition from employment to business start-up, including one to one advice, mentoring, access to finance support and business planning.

Business and enterprise minister Mark Prisk says, ‘Small businesses are the lifeblood of the economy, and we want to encourage more people to discover their entrepreneurial spirit and start a business.

‘I’m pleased the Ready for Business programme will join many other schemes benefiting from support from the RGF to help small companies realise their potential.’

Kevin Horne, chairman of The Cavendish Consortium and CEO of enterprise agency NWES adds, ‘The enterprise support organisations and partners involved in the delivery of the new Ready for Business programme have vast experience and success in supporting pre start-ups with business advisory and training services – in many cases built up over 30 years.

‘It is fantastic that we will now be able to increase our reach through this new RGF-funded programme, using our proven expertise to offer a unique and dedicated support package to a large number of future start-ups.’

See also: Family business centre launched