Islanders have been celebrating the success of the Isle of Wight’s first PopUp Business School, which saw over 75 members of the local community get involved in a series of engaging workshops last week.
Since its inception, PopUp Business School has helped over 1,500 businesses across the UK become a success. Noticing the difference that the workshops have made to people across the country, a group of housing associations decided to bring this entrepreneurial spirit to their residents on the island.
Through a series of free-to-attend self-employment workshops, residents of Southern Housing Group, Sovereign and Optivo were shown how to turn potential business ideas into reality. The attendees’ business ideas were diverse across many industries – including film, music, health and beauty, and plumbing. They discovered how to develop their ideas, promote their business, create websites and manage their finances, all while being empowered to bring their business ideas to life.
Southern Housing Group resident, Mrs Realy, said:
“The course has been amazing and I have attended all week. Southern Housing Group are supporting me with digital access, helping me to get a laptop so I can set up my own website, which I learnt on the course.”
Matthew McLean, Southern Housing Group’s Community Investment Manager for the Isle of Wight, said:
“As a business with social objectives we’re always looking to help people make the most of their lives and these sessions are a great way of inspiring the next set of Isle of Wight of entrepreneurs. The demographic has been diverse which invites different perspectives. The strong partnership working on the Island has ensured a very successful project.”
Toby Eaglen, Community Development Officer for Sovereign, said:
“We want people to be inspired to set up something new, and support them to release their capacity to grow an existing business.”
PopUp Business School’s Chief Executive Officer, Henry Nicholson said:
“The week course has been a phenomenal success and I can’t wait to see the impact that these people make over the coming months.”
We are doing amazing things still helping and supporting each other every day 🙂
I attended this course every day and I must say every day was a day well spent. I have a start up business called 4D SPORTS which has been running for just over a year now and this course was just the tonic I needed, validating some of the choices i have made this far as well as giving me back my focus and a solid plan of what to do next.
Thanks Popup business school for the value you gave to everyone in the room, all of whom where there to take action towards a better life, inspiring for me.
Also thanks to sovereign housing and of course the council for funding this fine initiative. More of the same please… x