Social enterprise Elevator has employed two specialist advisors to help people in the Fraserburgh area to start new businesses, ahead of an enterprise centre opening later this year.
The Enterprise Hub, powered by Elevator in partnership with Aberdeenshire Council, is currently being built in the refurbished Council Chamber and former police station in the town’s Saltoun Square.
The North Aberdeenshire LEADER programme, a funding initiative designed to support rural economic growth, has awarded £149,549 of EU and Scottish Government funds to the project.
The Enterprise Hub will provide help and support for local residents thinking about starting or growing their business.
The converted space will provide budding entrepreneurs with specialist business advice, referrals and free desk space with computers.
Pamela Neri has joined the team as enterprise manager, alongside colleague Jennifer Stephen, who has been employed as enterprise co-ordinator.
Jennifer and Pamela will be based at Fraserburgh Business Centre until the Enterprise Hub opens at the end of the year.
It is hoped the team will support 50 existing and 10 new firms in the town and surrounding rural areas. The Enterprise Hub will assist the creation of new jobs and ensure that people get access to the right information and skills to get their business off to the best possible start.
Helping to set up new businesses is a key priority for Aberdeenshire Council, which has provided an additional £101,000 of funding to develop the Enterprise Hub as part of the Council’s wider investment in the regeneration of Fraserburgh.
Professor Gary McEwan, chief executive of Elevator, said: “We are pleased to welcome Pamela and Jennifer to the team and although the Enterprise Hub will not open until around Christmas, they will be available immediately to offer help and advice to people in the Fraserburgh area who may have an idea for a business or have been thinking about setting up a company but are unsure where to start.
“We work with more than 2,500 start-ups and market research found there was a high level of entrepreneurial ambition and innovation potential within the Fraserburgh community, so we are looking forward to welcoming local people and helping to encourage additional new businesses.”
Councillor Brian Topping, chair of the Fraserburgh Regeneration Development Partnership, said: ”Supporting a diverse economy is a key priority in the Fraserburgh Regeneration Plan and this Hub will help to give local people from in and around the town the support and confidence to start and grow their business ideas locally, retaining skills and talent in the local economy.”
Elevator works across Scotland to help facilitate the start-up, acceleration and growth of new and existing businesses, supporting the entrepreneurs, business leaders and employees of today and tomorrow by providing expert business advice, teaching entrepreneurship, enterprising behaviour and employability skills.
Delivering Business Gateway services, Elevator currently engages with more than 2,500 start-up businesses and assists more than 1,000 organisations to grow annually, with advisory support.
Through its Centre for Entrepreneurship in Aberdeen and a second centre in Dundee, Elevator aims to supports an additional 200 start-ups per year through stimulating interests in launching and growing businesses, as well as welcoming global talent onto Elevator’s Accelerator Programme.
For more information, contact Pamela Neri by email at pamela@elevatoruk.com.
