Enterprise Island Challenge comes to Irvine Bay

One of the UK’s leading enterprise experts will be travelling to Irvine Bay next month (February) in a bid to help local people uncover their ‘inner entrepreneur’.

Iain Scott, who believes anyone can learn to set up and run a successful business, is the creator of a method called the Enterprise Island Challenge which teaches people how to think like entrepreneurs.

His concept has been tried and tested throughout the country, with hundreds of people being helped to get their business ideas off the ground. Now Irvine Bay Regeneration Company, in partnership with North Ayrshire Council and Business Gateway, have invited Iain Scott to hold an Enterprise Island Challenge here in Irvine Bay.

Patrick Wiggins, Chief Executive of Irvine Bay, said: “The fantastic spirit of the people who live and work in Irvine Bay is one of our biggest assets. Creating an Enterprise Island Challenge here will help tap into the huge potential of local people who have a desire and ambition to run their own businesses.

“Irvine Bay is all about creating new opportunities from all of the fantastic quality on offer here ― be it our wonderful coastline, our proximity to Glasgow, our re-emerging towns or, as in this case, our people.”

Said Iain, who is originally from Glasgow but is now based in Cornwall: “The Enterprise Island Challenge is open to anyone aged 16 and over who has ever dreamed about setting up their own business or has a passion or a hobby that could be turned into a fantastic business opportunity.

“You don’t need a business plan; you don’t need experience; you just need to be excited about the possibility of maybe setting up your own business and want to know if your idea has potential.”

Iain explained: “What is unique is that our focus is not on people who have business plans and exit strategies in place. Instead, we target the many thousands who have dreamed of setting up a business but haven’t done anything about it yet ― often because they haven’t got the confidence and don’t believe that anyone will take them, or their ideas, seriously.”

The Challenge kicks off next month when Iain Scott and his panel of experts will begin meeting aspiring entrepreneurs on an informal, individual and confidential basis over the course of three days.

The 15 minute interview sessions will take place between 11am and 7pm as follows:

Tuesday 3 February  Ship Inn, Harbour Street, Irvine
Wednesday 4 February  Lauriston Hotel, Ardrossan
Thursday 5 February  James Watt College, Lauchlan Way, Kilwinning

Simply call 0845 60 66 826 to book your place.

Iain stated: “The people we identify as having the most entrepreneurial potential and are ready to go forward will be offered the chance to take their business idea onto the next level at an Enterprise Island Masterclass which, like the interview sessions, will be absolutely free.”

He added: “Even if you aren’t offered a Masterclass place, our research has shown that just getting the chance to talk things over with the Enterprise Island panel can give people a tremendous motivating boost.”

Among those who took part in an Enterprise Island Challenge in Liverpool last year was Carol McGrady, recently seen on ITV’s “This Morning” show as a finalist in their “Mumpreneur” competition with her baby blanket idea. Carol was a single mum with four kids ― and four jobs! ― who had never thought of starting a business until she saw an ad for the Enterprise Island Challenge and decided to sign up for an interview.

You can find out more about Enterprise Island Challenge at www.enterpriseisland.com or www.irvinebay.co.uk

Or, visit the Enterprise Island Cafe to view a short video.