StartUp Suffolk is a not-for-profit organisation established in 2012 by Tim Meadows-Smith, a Suffolk-based entrepreneur with a successful track record of business launches, turnaround and investment.
Tim was an advisor on the Board of the high profile enterprise organisation StartUp Britain before he launched StartUp Suffolk in his capacity as “Localisation Champion” for Suffolk.
As many as 50% of start-ups fail within 5 years and many because they do not have access to timely and affordable specialist business advice or funding sources. StartUp Suffolk was established to enable new business start-up ventures in Suffolk to thrive and survive, by providing free and independent sources of business expertise.
Unique, truly independent advice from specialists
StartUp Suffolk does not duplicate the services of any agency for new and growing businesses. It is not compromised by the need to attract grants or to maintain staff employment based on funding handouts. StartUp Suffolk has no employees, only business volunteers. It is the only financially-independent support agency in Suffolk that delivers all of its services via a network of highly-skilled Voluntary Enterprise Champions.
These Voluntary Enterprise Champions are successful business people with hands-on entrepreneurial experience, gained from setting up and growing their own profitable enterprise. Their role is different from a traditional “business mentor” since they can provide unique insight from their personal experience as a successful entrepreneur.
Your interaction with a Voluntary Enterprise Champion is designed to provide a one-off advisory service that identifies and deals with the issues in one meeting. StartUp Suffolk’s Leadership Team can signpost you to specialist business and funding advice that is tailored to the your business, including referring you to other helpful agencies.
StartUp Suffolk acts as a much-needed bridge and signposting service between the multiple statutory and funded agencies that serve the small business community in Suffolk. We seek never to duplicate and only provide services where local gaps are apparent.
If you’d like more information on how to get involved, or how to gain free advice from StartUp Suffolk, click here to contact us.
