A new
comprehensive and interactive calendar of key enterprise events
throughout 2012 has been unveiled by Business Minister Mark Prisk.
The StartUp 2012: Enterprise Calendar highlights over
600 enterprise opportunities across the UK throughout the year.
They include competitions, conferences, workshops and networking
events that could be the kick-start needed to help a new or
growing business venture.
The calendar is part of the new Business in You
campaign, launched by the Prime Minister earlier this week,
which brings together the Government and private sector to inspire
people to start or grow their business.
Business and Enterprise Minister Mark Prisk said:
“We want 2012 to be the year of enterprise, where entrepreneurs
can unlock their business potential. Enterprise events don’t just
take place on one day, or during one week, but they appear
throughout the year and across the country. We need to make sure
people know that there is support and advice available, that it is
easy to get, and it is often on their doorstep.
“The Government is committed to providing more opportunities for
businesses to start and grow. We are continuing to increase the
number of volunteers through the new national mentoring scheme and
have launched an improved business link website. The enterprise
calendar is a great addition to our support for business in 2012
and beyond.”
Rajeeb Dey, Co-Founder of StartUp Britain and founder of
Enternships.com, said:
“The Enterprise Calendar is about helping businesses go for it.
It will shine a spotlight on the broad range of plentiful
resources that exist for people wanting to start or grow a
business in 2012. This will be a unique asset for small businesses
to search for, and find, relevant events in their area and plan
their year ahead. 2012 promises to be a very exciting year for
enterprise – never has there been a better time to go for it in business.”
Also commenting on StartUp 2012, Peter Jones CBE, Dragons’ Den
Entrepreneur and founder of the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy,
said:
“I wish the StartUp Calendar had been around when I was starting
up a business. It is a really useful, practical tool and will be
invaluable in helping people find the support and inspiration they
need over the coming year.”
Notes to editors:
The enterprise calendar can be found on the StartUp Britain
website, www.startupbritain.org. StartUp Britain is the private
initiative for entrepreneurs, by entrepreneurs. The campaign was
launched by the Prime Minister on 28 March 2011. StartUp Britain
aims to raise the profile of entrepreneurship and to celebrate,
inspire and accelerate enterprise in the UK. It has the backing of
Government, although it is not publicly funded.We have also
launched a mentoring portal: $2 (launched July 2011 and developed
in conjunction with the British Bankers Association) to provide a
single point of access for those seeking mentoring and those
seeking to be mentors across the UK. It is already helping to
bring together existing networks of mentors in the voluntary and
private sectors. We are encouraging more businesses to volunteer
to mentor other businesses and our aim is to develop a network of
over 40,000 business mentors.The Business Link website $2 has been
updated and provides easy-to-use information to help start up,
improve or grow a business. The Business in You campaign
highlights a range of Government initiatives which provide support
and advice to entrepreneurs and businesses to help them start up,
improve and grow. BIS's online newsroom contains the
latest press notices, speeches, as well as video and images for
download. It also features an up to date list of BIS press office
contacts. See http://www.bis.gov.uk/newsroom for more information.
Contacts:
BIS Press Office
NDS.BIS@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Dan Palmer
Phone: 020 7215 5303
dan.palmer@bis.gsi.gov.uk