Make Your Mark Blog

More than 150 people in Merthyr Tydfil discovered the advantages to being their own boss during a local enterprise campaign.

Budding entrepreneurs of all ages in Merthyr were given help to get their business ideas off the ground with a series of activities held during Enterprise Week.

The campaign was a key part of the local council’s commitment to boost new business and create the world-beating entrepreneurs of the future. The Enterprise Week - the first ever held in Merthyr – gained such a positive response that requests have been made to repeat the event next year.

NOP GFK research suggests that initiatives like Enterprise Week are having an impact on young people’s attitudes and behaviour; with over a third (35%) feeling they have the personal qualities needed to develop a business idea, up from 26% in 2005.

Between 2005 and 2006 there were also increases in the proportions of young people actively engaging in enterprise activities. The most popular activity for over a quarter of young people (27%, up from 22% in 2005) is running or owning a website with commercial potential.

The research reveals that of the young people that are already thinking about setting up an enterprise, 85% do not see their youth preventing them from taking their ideas forward (up from 75% in 2005).

The Merthyr events ranged from business networking seminars to a dynamic mobile event hosted by Valleys Radio. The showpiece event of the week, however was the inaugural ‘Merthyr Tydfil Business Awards’ hosted by Arfron Haines Davies.

At the awards, Arfron said: “I haven’t been to Merthyr for some time but it’s evident that enterprise has played a crucial element in Merthyr’s growth. And, as the world becomes increasingly more connected through globalisation, encouraging enterprise assistance and networking is essential. It’s great that Merthyr Tydfil council is leading the way.”

During the week there was also the launch of Merthyr’s own ‘How to start your own business’ guide book and DVD. The book and film, which feature existing local entrepreneurs, was designed to act as an ‘easy to follow’ guide for anyone interested in starting a business. It highlights business support available.

The week of activities form part of a 12-month action plan by Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council and its partners to encourage entrepreneurship within the Heads of the Valleys.

One of its partners is Working Links. Ruth O’Donoghue of Working Links said: “The overall aim of the week was to make a positive impact on the local community by increasing economic activity generated through new start businesses and social enterprises.

“By holding a wide range of outstanding events in the area, it was the intention of the organisers to outline self-employment as a genuine career option. Enterprise Week 2007 was a huge success within Merthyr Tydfil and a lot of what has been achieved has been as a result of collaborative working between the private, public and community/voluntary sectors. Local businesses, support providers, schools/colleges, public bodies, youth programmes and not for profit groups all combined to maximise the impact of the week in Merthyr Tydfil.”

Working Links, which was established in 2000, works in the heart of the community to help individuals change their lives. It has extensive experience of helping people who face difficulties breaking down the barriers that prevent them from working. And it works with people to help them find their dream job or develop their own business. It has so far helped more than 13,000 people by providing them with advice and support ranging from help with CVs to training and establishing their own businesses.

For more information about Working Links, check out www.workinglinks.co.uk or call freephone 0800 917 9262.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 28th, 2007 at 4:47 pm and is filed under Enterprise Week. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.