Norris Green residents are benefitting from a groundbreaking business support programme which was first launched in 2015 through Liverpool Central Library’s Business & Intellectual Property Centre (BIPC).
Successfully launched last Monday, 23rd September, the Entrepreneur in Residence Business Clinic will be held at Lifestyles Ellergreen, Norris Green each Monday and delivers free, confidential advice and help to hundreds of people wanting to start, grow or secure their business.
A team of big-hearted professionals, led by Gary Millar FJMU, former Lord Mayor of Liverpool, aim to deliver a high impact service and are able to give people top quality business advice through these clinics. Supported by almost 40 specialist volunteer mentors, Gary and his team have provided support to thousands of entrepreneurs since opening within Liverpool Central Library in 2015, combining together to help people in accessing specialist expertise, from trademarks and patents through to marketing, finance and a whole range of other business areas. They genuinely care about our business community and turn up, listen, advise and follow up, giving hours of their valuable time for nothing .
At the first clinic last Monday, Gary was joined by fellow volunteers, lawyer Francis McEntegart of MC Legal and finance and banking expert Gary Beggs of Pomegranate, were on hand to answer questions from anyone who dropped into Lifestyles Ellergreen wanting advice on protecting their ideas, accessing finance or general help on starting or growing a business.
BIPC’s business engagement and marketing manager Geraldine Fuller said: “The Entrepreneur in Residence clinics have been a huge success and played a critical role in supporting over 2,000 businesses over the last three years. People come to us from all walks of life and we help anyone – from an individual with an idea needing to be protected, to a larger business needing patent advice or access to market research. There is a huge demand for our services from start-ups through to established businesses. Gary has as always given up his time completely free of charge and his infectious passion and energy has meant he’s enlisted the support of a brilliant team of people who share his drive and commitment to supporting our local businesses. Thanks to Gary and the volunteers we are now also able to deliver this world class service in Norris Green.
Gary said: “Please pop into see us each Monday. Between us we have loads of useful experience, masses of helpful connections and a passion for paying it forward. It’s free of charge, impartial, independent and no one is getting paid to help you. We genuinely want to give Norris Green and areas further afield the very best opportunities. We are also really good listeners, and we look forward to helping you explore your business ideas and issues. We know from the work we’ve been doing over many years that we can help you make a real difference. With this new opening in Norris Green, I’m pleased to see that the BIPCs are again helping spread the access to business guidance and help turn your concepts into commercial reality.