Entrepreneurial Spark has created a package to aid business start ups

Entrepreneurial Spark has created a package to aid business start ups

There is a terrific Abraham Lincoln quote that sums up the Entrepreneurial Spark view of how inclusive entrepreneuring should be. It goes ...'If there is anything that a man can do well, I say let him do it. Give him a chance'

Within this narrative we have created the NEST programme. Building on the success of the five month accelerator programme in our Hatcheries - Glasgow, Edinburgh and Ayrshire now have additional spaces to grow new ventures.

So why is it important to nurture new ventures and help start-up entrepreneurs in this way?

Starting and growing a new business is a lonely life. Entrepreneurs live or die by the decisions they make, the effort they put in and, of course, whether or not they have a spot of luck along the way.

There are more barriers and blockers than you can throw a stick at in growing a new venture. These include: finance, legals, insurance, IP and trademarks, IT, telecoms, hiring staff, HMRC ... the list goes on.

Entrepreneurs will make mistakes on the way - many costly. But why compound these across a nation? If there is the opportunity to give more start ups a better chance of making it - then why not?

The NEST has been created exactly to address this. In partnership with Local Authorities, Royal Bank of Scotland and top entrepreneurs such as Sir Tom Hunter and Lord Willie Haughey, Scotland now has entrepreneurial hubs where new and growing businesses can grow with like-minded individuals.

So what's on offer? A 12-month free package starting in February 2014: free desking, IT, telecoms, meeting rooms, parking and celebrate success events ... But that's just the tip of the iceberg. Our work with entrepreneurs highlights they want to be challenged to grow quicker. So, you will have a full-time Executive Entrepreneurial Enabler working with you.

This Babson-taught individual will support and challenge you as you go through the highs and lows. She will challenge your resourcefulness and mindfulness, join up dots and engender in you a mindset that is outcome driven with commercial acumen.

Add to this an on-site Local Authority Business Gateway Growth Advisor and you have a perfect blend of private and public acceleration. The rest is up to you and your team. In short, a great inspirational and aspirational space with an executive 'MBA'-style growth programme wrapped around it.

Roger Dubar from Zapcoder has just been accepted on the February 14 intake. "Entrepreneurial Spark has been amazing for Zapcoder, " he said.

"In the corporate world this level of coaching and mentoring would cost many thousands of pounds. It's an honour to have been invited to join the advanced "NEST" programme, and we can't wait to get started, to take our business and our fellow Scottish start ups to the next level."

Don't miss your opportunity to get into the NEST!! Think and act like an entrepreneur. Apply now at www.entreprenurial-spark.com #GoDo

The Entrepreneur in the hooded jumper