What's Your Big Idea ?
Portsmouth Technopole will be helping with a workshop open day later this month to help local residents pick up the entrepreneurial spirit.
The aim of ‘The Big Idea’ event in the Charles Dickens ward is to stimulate ideas from locals, from whatever background, to see if any can be turned into money-spinners to help generate local jobs.
It takes place from 10am to 4pm on Wednesday 30th June at the Buckland Community Centre in Malins Road, Portsmouth with workshops and guided tours of the Technopole.
The event includes stands staffed by employment-support organisations, as well as free refreshments.
One of the organisations with a leading role is the landmark Portsmouth Technopole, which provides office space and professional facilities for more than 150 people working for 42 diverse businesses and is nearly 90% full.
The Technopole, a five-minute walk from the community centre, is located at Kingston Crescent, by the M275, in a ward where unemployment is above average.
As part of a ‘good neighbour policy’, the Technopole - owned by the City Council and managed by business centres operator Oxford Innovation - wants to reach out to the community.
Stephen Brownie, the Technopole’s centre manager, said: “The aim of the informal workshop open day is to help residents in and around the Charles Dickens ward pick up the entrepreneurial spirit."
“It may well be that we have the next Lord Alan Sugar in the neighbourhood, someone with a brilliant concept but doesn’t have the social skills or know-how to convert that into commercial success."
“Some people may not be able to find a job but have the untapped skills to make one."
“They could transform their ‘light bulb’ ideas into business opportunities or social enterprises, helping to generate local employment and inward investment.”
He added: “Through increased awareness of our support facilities and resources, we feel the Technopole can play an important role in fostering the local community’s interest in business as a force for good.”
A leading entrepreneur in Portsmouth, who is based at the Technopole, will be opening the event and giving a keynote speech.
Iain Morgan founded Bladez Toyz following a £100,000 investment win on TV’s Tycoon, the brainchild of millionaire businessman Peter Jones of Dragons Den fame.
He said: “I would urge any local resident who feels they have a good business idea, whether they are out of work or not, to come along."
“Ideas hatched in the bath, in front of the telly or over a pint could become money-spinners with the right kind of support, and this open day signposts what is available by way of help in a friendly, informal way.”
Iain will be joined in the opening with Rachel O'Reilly from local public relations firm Morph PR.
Workshops to be held on 30th June
11am to 12noon – Ten First Steps to running your business, presented by Enterprise Gateway as entrepreneur / self-employment workshops.
12.30pm to 1.30pm - Motivational workshops run by Technopole-based Community Systems, a training organisation that helps the unemployed back into work.
2pm to 3pm - to be confirmed.
Guided tours of the Technopole:
12.10pm, 1.40pm and 3.10pm.
Organisations with stands include:
Community Systems
Portsmouth City Council
Portsmouth Technopole
Learning Links
In Biz
Princes Trust
PRIME
Fredericks Trust
Women’s Wisdom
Enterprise Gateway
Jobcentre Plus
For more information, contact Linda Taylor and Portsmouth City Council on 02392 841501