Over 50’s given chance to set up own business

The workshops, which are going to be held at Horton House, are being organised by The Prince’s Initiative for Mature Enterprise (PRIME), a national charity helping over 50s get back into work through enterprise.

PRIME will be hosting half-day workshops on Tuesday April 8, as well as Wednesday April 9, for people over the age of 50, who are unemployed or not in full-time work.

Terry King, PRIME’s Northern Development Manager, said: “People over the age over of 50 are more likely to experience long-term unemployment compared to the other age groups and we believe this is a shocking waste as older workers have so much to offer.

“Our upcoming workshops in Halifax will help over 50s explore whether self-employment is the right option for them and then provide advice, guidance and training so they know exactly what to expect before they start their businesses for the first time.”

Rod Boyes, from Hebden Bridge, started his own business, Pinegrove Leather, after he attended a PRIME business training case.

The former special needs educational software developer now makes hand-made leather goods and has also attended St James’s Palace, where he presented his wares to HRH The Prince of Wales in September 2013.

On the day representatives from PRIME will go through what is involved in starting a business and potential benefits of being self-employed.

More than 70 people from Halifax have previously registered with PRIME and the charity will then return to the area on April 28 to deliver a comprehensive training course to over 50s who want further help to start a business.

The training course will be delivered over eight weeks, including three classroom days and offsite learning, and will take people through the process of starting a business covering areas such as managing finances, understanding legal requirements and how to draft a business plan.

Further details can be found at www.prime.org.uk/courses