The Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith was in Torquay on Thursday to meet some of those who have started a business after receiving support from Outset Torbay.
During the meeting he heard from 12 business owners who would not have looked to set up their own company before receiving help from Outset Torbay. The services provided by the companies at the meeting included cleaning, gymnastics for younger children, hairdressing, mobile car diagnostics and laser clay pigeon shooting.
The venue for the meeting itself, the Green Leaf Café in Union St, is an example of a company set up by those who changed their careers to do so, as former bank worker Liz Pitt who runs it with her partner explained.
Outset Torbay offers one to one guidance and workshops for those with an idea, but who have never thought about starting a business for themselves before. The 16 week programme covers the range of challenges that can be faced in starting and maintaining a business.
The Secretary of State heard how Outset Torbay has just helped its 317th business get started, with 340 jobs created and an estimated £1m a year saving in benefit payments from those it has assisted so far.
Kevin Foster, the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Torbay, who helped arrange the meeting said afterwards: “Outset is a fantastic organisation that focuses on helping people who would never have dreamt of running their own business to get the skills they need to do so. I invited Iain Duncan Smith to Torquay so he could hear first-hand from those who have benefitted from their support services and to see the potential for getting more people working for themselves.”
“Outset Torbay’s current funding lasts till June and the meeting was a chance to pursue with the Secretary of State options for their future as well. There were some positive suggestions made on this that I will be following up.”
Those wanting more details about the support available through Outset Torbay can contact them on 0800 0322 905 or visit their website http://www.outsettorbay.co.uk/