Business Startup: advice
and support

What is Wirralbiz?

• Wirralbiz is the programme for people who want to start and run their own business.
• Wirralbiz programme is available to all individuals resident within and/or wishing to start a new business in Wirral and have no experience of running their own business.
• Wirralbiz programme is available to a wide range of qualifying businesses - see below for what is eligible and ineligible.
• Wirralbiz is a FREE programme delivered at the wirralbiz centre, Egerton House, Tower Road, Birkenhead.

What is in the wirralbiz programme?

• Awareness sessions start the programme, telling you about the good and not so good things that are required to start and run your own business, and are held regularly during the day or evening;
• Six informal training sessions, two per week over three weeks, day or evening, then follow if you want to go on to start your own business and these take you through the things you need to help you prepare to set up and run your business;
• One-to-one counselling is also available to offer personal help before and after your new business has started operating;
• Mentoring to help you and monitoring to assess performance of your new business is also available during the first 18 months of trading; and
• Discretionary grants between £500 and £2000 may be available to qualifying businesses payable in stages during the first twelve months of trading.

What types of businesses are eligible for support from the wirralbiz programme?

• Almost all types of businesses designing, making and/or supplying products and services qualify for support from wirralbiz and are standard throughout Wirral irrespective of the location with the exception of the five Wards, formerly known as Bidston, Birkenhead, Leasowe, Seacombe and Tranmere, which will also have limited provision for supporting new pure retail businesses - see below.

What types of businesses are ineligible for support from the wirralbiz programme?

• Pure retail businesses, defined as businesses not adding value to the goods or services that they provide other than in the Wards above and the following:
• Businesses selling tickets and/or operating as a travel agency.
• Sandwich shops and takeaway food businesses other than in Wards defined above.
• Betting shops or any business providing facilities for gambling.
• Amusement arcades, centres or funfairs.
• Pubs, clubs, bars and wine bars.
• Businesses selling fuel for motor vehicles.
• Businesses operating as motor vehicle sales outlets without service support.
• Taxi businesses and/or individual taxi operators.
• Businesses operating as scrap yards or breakers of motor vehicles.
• Businesses providing facilities for body piercing, tattooing or similar activities.
• Businesses involving any pornographic activities.
• Businesses providing security services including mobile security
• Businesses involved with religious or political activities.

How do you find out more about the wirralbiz programme?
For further information on how to join the free programme and learn how to set up and run your own business, contact 0845 456 1796 or call into Egerton House and ask for details.

wirralbiz centre
Egerton House
Tower Road
Birkenhead
CH41 1FN

t: 0151 650 6950
f: 0151 650 0777
e: info@wirralbiz.biz