a bright future

WARRINGTON Business Venture began its new operations as a separate organisation from Business Link, Warrington, this week.

Business Link has now become the new Small Business Service for Cheshire and Warrington, but it will continue to operate under the Business Link name.

Margaret Dandy, former deputy chief executive of Business Link, is the new chief executive of Business Venture, which was first set up 14 years ago.

In that time, it has helped 2,500 business to get off the ground and has operated many successful Women into Business courses.

The organisation offers advice, counselling and training initiatives and events.

Some of its funding comes from the Small Business Service and some from the European Social Fund.

Many local companies and organisations also support the Business Venture with sponsorships.

Said Margaret : "We rely heavily on sponsorship. Sponsors can be anything from small business to big organisations. We get a lot of support from the town generally, and we have a good network of local companies providing support but we are always looking for more."

The Business Venture, based at the International Business Centre, also co-ordinates Business by Association, a business to business network club.

Margaret's team at the Business Venture consists of Tim McKiernan, personal small business advisor, Ray Birks, business counsellor, Pauline Sallis, project co-ordinator, Lynn Burrows, training co-ordinator and Sandra Ambler, administrator.