Entrepreneurs Launch Businesses With Council Support

Three entrepreneurs have launched their own businesses this month with support from Torfaen council. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Handy Man, Celebrate with Wendy, and Once Upon a Dress were all supported by a project designed to help residents in Communities First areas to develop their business ideas. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Further support was provided by Torfaen Effect, a panel of volunteers drawn from the local businesses community, voluntary organisations and the public sector, who provide free confidential business expertise and advice. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Jason Winmill, 44, from Fairwater in Cwmbran, was a full time dad for 10 years and found it difficult to get back into work. Formerly a painter and decorator, he decided to strike out on his own as The Handy Man, providing a handyman service to local residents, but although he had the skills he lacked the funding and knowledge to get his business idea off the ground. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He said: “I was struggling financially as a single parent and contacted the council for support. As well as helping me with my business plan they supplied all my leaflets and business cards, and have helped me access a loan from the Torfaen Credit Union that will allow me to buy equipment and do some additional training to further my skills.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Wendy Williams, 59, also of Fairwater, recently retired from a career in the care sector and was encouraged to set up Celebrate with Wendy by her husband. She creates celebratory bouquets and flower displays for special occasions. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

She said: “I was making wreaths and flower arrangements and selling them locally via word of mouth. The support I have received has allowed me to reach a wider audience, and I am now planning to trial a stall in Pontypool Indoor Market.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Richard Murphy from Communities First Torfaen said: “Communities First areas are recognised as some of the deprived communities in the country, with high levels of unemployment. There are many people in these communities who have a huge range of valuable skills and expertise, but don’t have the know how to get out there and start their own business, and we aim to support these people. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“With the additional support from the local business community through Torfaen Effect we can offer them a full package of business support, and I would urge anyone who has an idea for a business to get in touch for an informal discussion to see how we may be able to help.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Torfaen Effect is sponsored by Welsh Government, Torfaen council and Communities First. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​