Rural council backs its Microbiz-nizzes
Two successful home-grown entrepreneurs will address Horsham District Council’s sixth annual Microbiz fair on 15 March, marking the sixth anniversary of this event for small and home-based businesses.
Sarah Hatswell, founding partner (at 25) and managing director of Sovereign Credit Management, and Tim Breden, operations director of Kates Cakes, named Sussex Business of the Year, will give keynote speeches on the day. Both companies, one now employing 500 staff and the other more than 100, started out as home businesses.
No-strings advice
Also on the schedule will be 12 free seminars and workshops given by leading business specialists and expert advice from 40 exhibitors, including HM Revenues and Customs, Business Link, the council’s trading standards team and local firms offering services including website and graphic design.
The event, organised and sponsored by Horsham District Council which pioneered the Microbiz concept, was the brainchild of Horsham councillor Roger Paterson. Cllr Paterson proposed the idea as a practical response to a 2002 Horsham DC survey which found 15% of the district’s 54,000 households were running a home-based business.
‘So many small businesses emerged, particularly in rural areas or smaller villages,’ Cllr Paterson says. ‘This was one way to get them to identify themselves and offer support, training and mentoring without their running the risk of unwelcome tax demands.’
One problem the survey highlighted was isolation, says Horsham business development manager Chris Baister. ‘They also wanted networking events with other businesses with similar problems or ones they could buy services from, and advice on keeping abreast with government legislation.’
As a networking tool, the first Microbiz proved a huge success, she adds. ‘For people to say they’d had leads of 30 to 40 people on the day is incredible.’
For the council, Microbiz is an excellent way of building on local economic potential. ‘We don’t have many businesses with massive premises in the district,’ says Chris. ‘We have around 20 employing over 3-400 but the majority are small and home-based.’
Additional sponsorship for the event has been provided by West Sussex County Council, NatWest bank, ICG Print & Design, Sussex Business Link, Business Matters and Spirit FM.
The Microbiz programme is now available on the council's website.
To find out more about Microbiz click here , call 01403 215 529 or email business.development@horsham.gov.uk
