As redundancies continue to rise, the nation’s leading business support organisation is urging unemployed Scots to consider taking the plunge and launching their own business venture.
Research by the University of Strathclyde’s Fraser of Allander Institute has suggested that an estimated 120,000 jobs will be lost in Scotland within five years due to spending cuts. It has been claimed that 90,000 jobs will be lost in the public sector, in addition to 37,000 posts in private industry. With an estimated 212,000 people currently unemployed in Scotland, this spells bad news for the country’s tough job market.
Now the experts at The GO Group are calling for unemployed Scots to consider launching a new business venture, rather than looking for work elsewhere. Isabell Majewsky, chief executive of The GO Group, said:
“The job market is tough at the moment and for that reason many Scots are deciding to set up on their own and create work – rather than wasting time and energy trying to find a new job elsewhere.
“Launching a new business is not an easy option but it could allow people to have a job they really love. The GO Group runs a variety of programmes and support schemes to help budding entrepreneurs get started. I would encourage anyone who is interested in launching a new business to get in touch, we are here to help!”
The GO Group offers a wide range of training and advisory services designed to help businesses launch, grow and flourish through the recession. For further information, please visit www.thegogroup.co.uk or call 0845 602 1249.
Box out: Making your redundancy work for you
Jon Davies was made redundant from his role with the Glasgow Science Centre last year. He is now the managing director of his own educational outreach company, thinkScience. He said:
“I was devastated when I was made redundant. I had worked at the Science Centre for eight years and loved my job. Teaching children about science in a fun, inventive and easy-to-understand way is a real passion and setting up thinkScience has enabled me to continue doing what I love.”
Jon receiving helping setting up thinkScience from the Innovators Counselling and Advisory Service for Scotland (ICASS), an initiative funded by the Scottish Government and run by The GO Group. ICASS provides specialist advice and support for Scotland's inventors and innovators free-of-charge. A network of advisers cover the whole of Scotland, providing guidance in developing and protecting intellectual property, investment and getting products into the marketplace. Jon continues:
“The support I received from ICASS was invaluable. Having a great idea for a business is one thing, but having the know-how to make it work is something else altogether. I have two young children so setting up on my own wasn’t an easy decision – but my wife has been very supportive and my kids are a great audience to practise my classes on!”
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Thirty-two year-old Peter Macalroy was hit hard by the recession. A builder by trade, Peter found it almost impossible to find a secure job after being made redundant – despite travelling all over the country for work.
After being unemployed for six months, Peter decided to launch his own business. Inspired by a radio phone-in about ‘neighbours from hell’ Peter launched ChecktheArea.com – a unique service that allows house-buyers to investigate a neighbourhood before buying property there. Peter explains:
“Government statistics show that over 30% of people think their area is an unpleasant place to live, with 23% blaming this on problem tenants. Check the Area.com offers potential home buyers peace of mind. We employ a team of over 100 retired police officers to conduct face-to-face interviews with local residents, giving a realistic picture of the area and covering topics such as excess speed of vehicles, burglary, noisy neighbours and anything else that could be considered a nuisance.”
Check the Area.com launched two months ago and Peter says that he is now busier than ever. The service will soon be launching on Tepilo, Sarah Beeney's buying, selling and letting property website. Peter continues:
“Launching my own business was, without doubt, the right move. I hated being unemployed and there simply isn’t a huge amount of work available for builders at the moment. ICASS have been a constant source of support over the past few months, providing me with vital advice on securing trademarks and copyright to protect my business. This was a huge weight off my shoulders – I haven’t come this far just to have my business idea stolen!”
