A social enterprise which supports people with severe learning disabilities is urging budding local entrepreneurs to take advantage of a new scheme which helps small businesses with IT.
Crafts for Everyone, which offers training and learning opportunities from its base in Crumlin, has been able to set up a successful online pottery shop and increase its customer base thanks to support from from Communities 2.0, a Welsh Government scheme offering small businesses and social enterprises financial help towards IT systems as well as advice and practical support.
Now, Chief Executive of Crafts for Everyone, Margaret Betty, is encouraging local people dreaming of starting up in business to come forward and seek help from Communities 2.0.
Margaret, who has built up the successful enterprise over the last decade, explained the positive difference working with the Communities 2.0 team has made:
“We desperately needed a more appealing and accessible website to help get more people through the door. But, like many new businesses starting out, we didn’t know where to begin.
“Thanks to Communities 2.0 and the expertise of the project’s supportive staff we were able to commission a user-friendly and attractive site including an online shop which means we can now sell the pottery made in our workshop nationwide, creating an additional revenue stream for us.
“We have also been able to attract more people to our therapeutic classes, generating more income. Without the support we have had to improve our online presence, none of these things would have been possible.”
Communities 2.0 can help people who are thinking of setting up a business where IT would be crucial to its day-to-day running. No IT skills are necessary to apply for help as officers will provide training and support.
“We can help with everything from setting up a website to reviewing your current use of IT, to training you to use new software or technology,” said Ryan Jones from Communities 2.0.
He added: “We can help to find you new customers and we can show you how to use social media such as Facebook and Twitter as well as how to trade online.”
Ideally, the new business will help the local community either through an environmental or volunteering element. It could employ local people or provide learning and training opportunities. To qualify for financial support, the business should be able to show how it can be of benefit to the local community.
Support is also available to existing enterprises where technology is an integral area of the business.
For more information and how to apply, call Ryan on 0845 474 8282, email ryan.jones@walescooperative.org or visit www.clickconnectdiscover.org