Oldham’s self-employed have been benefitting from a pilot business support programme helping them to "achieve their goals".
The "EnterprisingYou" scheme has been commissioned by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) to offer support including workshops and coaching, as well help with health and wellbeing.
The scheme was launched in 2019 t0 help self-employed Greater Manchester residents who have earnings of less than £27,000 per year.
Oldhamer Gary Manners has been a self-employed travel counsellor for nearly a decade.
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After the pandemic, he decided to adapt his business, and joined the programme to see what new skills he could learn.
Gary said: “The pandemic really affected the travel industry, so I decided I would use the extra time sensibly and get up to date from a technology and marketing perspective.
"The new knowledge has given me the confidence to get back out there again. It's been a huge benefit and I've really enjoyed it.
“I’ve learnt plenty of new things to help improve my business, I've retrained to benefit my business in so many ways. I've taken away so much that has really helped propel my business.
“I’ve achieved all my goals and got from the programme everything I hoped for my business.”
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The scheme is run by training provider The Growth Company.
Yvonne Sampson, head of enterprise at the company’s business growth hub, said: “The UK has a proud tradition of self-employed workers. We just want to make sure that tradition continues.
“Many were already struggling, but the pandemic magnified those issues.
"Programmes like EnterprisingYou offer help and support and are designed in a way that people will eventually be able to stand on their own.
“We’re really proud to have helped thousands of self-employed people in Greater Manchester to succeed.”
The pilot programme was commissioned by the GMCA with funding from the Department for Education, and has already had more than 3,000 participants.
According to the company, a report shows the participants have seen a reduction of more than £660,000 in benefits claimed, and a £4.7m increase in the profitability of their businesses.
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