The Prince’s Initiative for Mature Enterprise (PRIME) is returning to Edinburgh to deliver further business training to help unemployed over 50s to start-up their own businesses. Earlier this year in May, PRIME came to Edinburgh for the first-time to host a one-day workshop, offering advice to aspiring mature entrepreneurs.
Following the success of the workshop, PRIME is teaming up again with Business Gateway in Edinburgh and Edinburgh City Libraries to deliver a comprehensive three-day course going through the practical skills needed to set-up a sustainable business. 95 people in Edinburgh have previously registered with PRIME for advice on how to start a business and 15 people attended the one-day workshop in May.
The new course, which begins on 4 July 2013, will be delivered over six to eight weeks, including three classroom days. The course takes people over the age of 50 through the challenging process of preparing to run their own business, covering areas such as researching a business idea, planning finances and how to market and sell a product or service.
In 2012 there were 55,000 self-employed people in Edinburgh and the Lothians, representing an increase of 9,500 (21%) on 2011. PRIME and Business Gateway both promote self-employment as a viable route into sustainable employment, which could be a possible alternative for the 3,800 unemployed over 50s in Edinburgh and the Lothians.
Councillor Frank Ross, Convenor at the City of Edinburgh Council’s Economy Committee, said:- “We are delighted that The Prince’s Initiative and Business Gateway are joining forces to provide a platform for the over 50s in the city so that they may go on to utilise their knowledge and skills to support themselves, as well as their communities.
“Mature people have so much to offer as they have the right skills and experience to make a positive contribution to the Council’s Economic Strategy and potentially create additional jobs which can be taken up by our young people.”
George Smith, PRIME’s Scotland Regional Development Manager, said: “Having 15 people attend our first-ever course in Edinburgh was an impressive turnout and we want to deliver even more training for over 50s desperate to find an alternative route into sustained employment.
“Mature people have a wealth of skills and experience to make a valuable contribution to their local communities, as well as the economy, and we want to provide them with the practical tools so that they can go on and establish successful and sustainable new businesses.”
Further details can be found at www.prime.org.uk/courses or by telephoning 0845 862 2023.
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