BUDDING entrepreneurs are being offered help to achieve their dreams of running their own successful business thanks to a new initiative from South Cheshire Chamber of Commerce.

Pre-Start Up events are up and running offering practical support to anyone thinking of setting up their own venture and the opportunity to hear from leading Chamber Premium members who have developed their own businesses.

The free sessions are led by the Chamber's Business Advisor Richard Weilding, who oversees the commercial sector and regularly meets with potential entrepreneurs thinking of starting their own business to discuss plans and strategies.

Richard has helped many new ventures get off the ground with guidance and loans advice after nearly 40 years working in banking and he has a wealth of experience as a former Nat West commercial manager in Crewe and Nantwich.

The first session took place at Wychwood Park Hotel with Gareth Williams, managing director of Crewe-based building maintenance and refurbishment company Construction Linx, as guest speaker.

Mr Williams, a Chamber Premium Member, stepped into the limelight as Young Business Person of the Year in 2005 and has notched up two further Chamber awards since – Best Small Business in 2015 and excellence in Customer Service in 2019.

Chamber International Trade Manager Jacqui Morris was also on hand to talk about developing opportunities abroad.

Further sessions will take place at Apollo Buckingham Health Science Campus over the spring and summer months with Chamber Premium Members talking about their own business journey.

Would-be entrepreneurs can attend in person or online.

Chamber Chief Executive Paul Colman said: "The Chamber is all about supporting new and existing businesses to generate prosperity for South Cheshire and in turn create new jobs and better lives for local people.

"The UK remains a booming market for start-ups and South Cheshire is a hot-bed of potential talent. Over the years we have seen many local success stories grow from the seed of an idea and we hope to encourage more.

"By staging these sessions, our aim is to offer guidance and inspire local people to follow their business dream and achieve great things here in South Cheshire."

The sessions are open to anyone who has an idea for a business but is not sure how or where to take things further.

Also welcome are early stage entrepreneurs, people in full time employment but considering other options and anyone just curious about self-employment.

Sessions are free and open to Chamber members and non-members. To attend email [email protected]

To learn more about the sessions and start-up support email [email protected]