Ten start-up businesses have been given a helping hand from Somerset Council’s innovative Launch Pad programme.
The businesses have all received a wide range of fully funded help to get them ready to move to the next level. The ten-week programme has included workshops, masterclasses and one-to-one mentoring tailored to businesses’ individual needs, and delivered by professionals, entrepreneurs and experts from industry.
A key to the success of the programme has been the collaboration between businesses as they have worked together throughout the months to achieve their entrepreneurial goals.
Business ideas have included an initiative aimed at strengthening communities by gardening in shared gardens, a dance academy, a pop-up online pet shop and the launch of spirit-based drinks which have been inspired by historic recipes.
Among the start-ups were Ukrainian refugees Kateryna Luchyna and Olexander Pervak, now living near Minehead, who have launched Bee Brave, which is dedicated to supporting those still living and working under difficult conditions in Ukraine.
Another of the participants was former primary school sports and educational visits co-ordinator Joe Andrews, who has launched Absolute Education, a web application which supports schools in tracking, monitoring, and affecting change through capturing student enrichment.
You can read the Somerset Council press release about Launch Pad here.
