Lynne Fox CREA,
Councillor Glenys Lumley,
Ted Thwaites, Area Support Manager (Eden), Paul Warren CREA.
Cumbria Rural Enterprise Agency (CREA) is one of the supporters of the new drop-in business advice centre in Devonshire Arcade and Paul Warren of CREA will be one of the advisers helping potential Penrith entrepreneurs to explore their options.
“The CREA team has been helping start up businesses for over 20 years,” said Paul, “and many of these businesses are now familiar names in Penrith, from The Crafty Baker in Devonshire Arcade to Ultimate Beauty at Lisa’s in Sandgate. Our support focuses on the practical aspects of planning a new business, exploring options, building skills and then finding the finance and advice that the person needs to get the best start possible.”
Gail Bashall owns the Ad Lib boutique on King Street and she has had a range of business support from CREA since she set up in 2004. “John Peel at CREA was my business adviser at the time,” said Gail. “It was comforting to know that his experience and knowledge were available with a quick call and that he was on my side whatever queries I had. CREA kept in touch right through my first year of trading and always gave me really useful support and practical advice.”
Bob Clark is CREA’s Executive Director: “We are finding that plenty of people in this area have ideas for businesses and are prepared to take the risk of self-employment, even in the current economic situation. Our programmes seem to have the right balance of support and help as well as challenge and practicality and the new business advice centre in the heart of Penrith should make local people even more aware of what help is available.”
Full details of CREA’s programmes, advice services and activities can be found at www.crea.co.uk.
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