South Lakes Development Trust

If you are over 50 and considering self-employment where do you turn?
PRIME was founded by HRH The Prince of Wales to provide a service to help anyone over 50 who wants to become self employed. It operates across the UK.
To find out more visit www.primebusinessclub.com
For other useful links to enterprise development information visit our Useful [...]

Two evenings of participative wokshop activities aimed at helping retailers recognise opportunities in their businesses are being held in Brampton during July.
The workshops are being held at The Howard Arms on the 13th and 22nd July from 7.00pm until 9.00pm.
“I never knew you sold that”  - 13th July
“Making more of your floor” – 22nd July
Retail [...]

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, delivered the coalition government’s Emergency Budget statement to the House of Commons today, 22 June 2010.�
As part of Business Link’s commitment to providing you with the latest news and relevant information for your business they have, for your convenience, summarised the key points of business interest.
Find out how the [...]

For an understanding of what our Shop Doctor undertakes when he advises independent shopkeepers, tune in to the latest series of BBC programmes hosted by Mary Portas.
Last nights episode can be viewed at www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00stcqb/Mary_Queen_of_Shops_Series_3_Clealls

A new Twitter account www.twitter.com/TheShopDoctor  has been established to enable retailers and other interested parties to follow SLDT’s  “Shop Doctor – Bill.
Helping to respond to the challenges facing retailers in rural and market town trading environments requires specialist treatment.
SLDT prescribes a range of bespoke business development therapy sessions under the generic title “The Shop Doctor”
From the delivery of retail [...]

A total of 24 retail businesses in Brampton, Longtown and Dalston have now been visited by our ‘Shop Doctor’ as part of Carlisle City Councils “Give you business a boost”  initiative.
The visits assess those important  first impressions made on customers, look at how the businesses can improve their external and internal image, identifies opportunties to improve layout, [...]

Cheshire East Council is hosting a Let’s Talk Shop event at Macclesfield Football Club (similar to the event held at Crewe Ramada Encore on the 18th March).  The event is aimed at independent retailers (shops, pubs, cafes, restaurants, etc.) in rural areas and towns in the Cheshire East area
 The event details are:

26 May 2010
6-9pm
Macclesfield Football [...]

Retail businesses in Brampton, Longtown and Dalston are able to access specialised retail advice from SLDT’s Shop Doctor thanks to a new initiative funded by Carlisle City Council.
Over 40 shops will be able to access FREE advice and receive recommendations to help revitalise their businesses.
The initiative also includes opportunity to attend evening workshop activities and Welcome [...]

A session of retailer therapy aimed at independent market town and rural retailers featuring high profile female entrepreneur Rachel Elnaugh of Dragons Den fame and Bill Smith, our own Retail Specialist.
‘Let’s Talk Shop’ poster and booking details

Cheshire East Council are organising two events for retailers in rural areas and towns in Cheshire.�
The first of these events on March 18th  is outlined below.
*         6.00-9.30pm
*         The event is fully subsidised by Cheshire East Council – there is no cost
*         Aimed at pubs, cafes, restaurants,  hairdressers and independent shops.
*         Rachel Elnaugh (ex of Dragon’s Den first [...]