Some 14 per cent of those working in Horsham are self-employed – and if you are a budding entrepreneur getting good advice at the outset is invaluable. For some, best advice can actually be don’t do it – or at least don’t do it yet! However for many there is a real opportunity and getting the building blocks in place early is a huge benefit.
Last week I met three local experts who make their advice available to those in exactly this position. Chris Cooper, using his experience as a Director of Seofon – a local firm that provides tax, bookkeeping and payroll services to local businesses sets out the admin basics that sadly every entrepreneur has to put in place. Jennie Edwards is a Business Coach and Marie Allen deals with how to engage in marketing via Social Media.
Their “Business Launchpad Courses” look at young potential businesses and what is needed to run one effectively. The courses are based at the offices of Horsham Co-Working (another great idea – office space for rent in Horsham on a desk-by-desk basis giving start-ups the interaction with other small businesses which can really help). The next course is 25th March and tickets (on a cost-covering basis) are available via Eventbrite or info@seofon.co.uk.
It is a great initiative. The ongoing rise in self-employment should be welcomed. From these entrepreneurs great businesses often spring. The balance that Government needs to strike is supporting entrepreneurs while not allowing companies unfairly to push genuine employees out into being “self-employed” (reducing their rights and entitlements). The extra risks and lower entitlements of being self-employed should be associated with tax advantages. However this could (especially among higher earners) if pushed too far create narrow the tax base the country needs to pay for our public services. We equally, I believe, need to ensure we are supporting the self-employed with wider entitlements and greater security. An element of this is state pension entitlement – which I am pleased is already being increased. The whole issue of how to support self-employment and get the balance right is under review this year – I hope and expect to see real improvements coming through.