A PROJECT offering fully funded business start-up support is going out on the road this summer, inviting budding entrepreneurs from Bude to join them at an informal information session.

Taking place today (Thursday) at The Parkhouse Centre in Bude, the event will provide an opportunity for interested individuals to find out more about the Outset Cornwall programme, ask questions of the advisors and sign up for the programme.

The Outset team has been instrumental in the creation of over 500 new businesses and nearly 700 jobs in Cornwall since the start of the programme back in 2009.

Included in this number is Ben Hawkins who joined the Outset programme before setting up his business Da Bara Bakery located in Grampound.

Ben said: “I thoroughly enjoyed the Outset courses. There was a lot that I didn’t know, that I hadn’t even thought about. It was a really good foundation.”

Da Bara Bakery now employs a team of 13 staff and has opened a café located in Ruan Highlanes.

Programme Director, Kate Perkin, said: “Outset’s flexible approach empowers people to take charge of their lives and overcome a range of potential barriers or challenges on their journey to self-employment.

“After a brief time away, we are delighted the Outset Programme is now back to continue the great work the team has achieved over the last seven years. We are urging anyone interested in starting their own business to get in touch to find out if Outset could help them.”

The Outset Programme is supporting people within Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to explore the possibility of becoming self-employed or start a business through a series of funded workshops that are taking place across the county.

Outset Cornwall, which has been funded by the European Regional Development Fund, DCH and the Outset Foundation, provides tailor-made business start-up support, helping individuals to further explore their business idea.

Outset was established by the YTKO Group in 2009 to stimulate economic development and help people ‘give themselves a job’ by equipping them with the essential skills, knowledge and confidence to start their own business.

In this new phase of the project, Outset will now be working in alongside Truro and Penwith College and The Engine Room partners, Real Ideas Organisation, School for Social Entrepreneurs Cornwall and Cornwall Neighbourhoods for Change to offer greater support to even more businesses.

Anyone interested in attending one of the many upcoming information sessions is asked to visit, email or call 0800 9174324 and speak to a member of the team.