FEO answering SOS from aspiring entrepreneurs

FOR Entrepreneurs Only, the member-based group helping businesses in Hull and East Yorkshire to prosper, has become a Community Interest Company as it looks to grow further in 2013.

Run by Jan Brumby, FEO’s 80-strong membership represents organisations with a collective turnover of £1.5bn employing more than 8,000 people.

And Ms Brumby, who holds a Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion, said FEO was looking to attract more corporate support after law firm Rollits agreed to become a partner.

Launched during Business Week in 2010, FEO has four key targets: inspiring a minimum of 500 local young people every year; assisting in the launch of 100 start-up businesses; helping at least 20 businesses to grow; and focussing on six major issues that could make a difference to the region.

Members, which include business leaders such as Paul Sewell of Sewell Group and David Kilburn of MKM Building Supplies, give their time to support other entrepreneurs and also offer advice to early stage businesses. Events and advices sessions are held at regular intervals.

Ms Brumby, the general manager of FEO, said it was vital organisations like FEO were running as the economic recovery continues.

She said: “The best ways for entrepreneurs to learn is for them to talk to their peers. We run clinics for anyone wanting to take that step to the next level.”

The move to CIC status means that FEO can re-invest any profit back into the community.

Ms Brumby said Rollits had helped the move to become a CIC and would offer support to help FEO create wealth and jobs.

Shaun Watts, who runs conmmercial interior design and fit-out business Chameleon Business Interiors and is a member of FEO, added: “This really is all about trying to grow businesses. FEO is actively doing that and helping people who are perhaps facing issues to grow.

“There’s no expectation to make a return and it’s very different from your average networking group.”

Case Study

FEOMEMBERS of FEO helped fitness expert Nick Johnson tone up his business.

The 29-year-old runs Improve Fitness kettlebell training and fitness studio and was the first person to take advantage of business advice clinics being run by FEO.

Mr Johnson approached FEO for advice on marketing and growing his client base after opening his new training studio in Sutton Fields, Hull.

Mr Johnson said: “The advice clinic was really helpful and the 45 minutes flew by. “It’s hard to come by good advice, especially from the right people. They told me to look at a referral scheme to build my customer base and a slight price increase because they thought I was too cheap.

“I didn’t want to upset my existing customers so I’ve kept them on a legacy price. But mostly it was about the referral scheme and working with current customers to grow the business.”

Kettlebells are metal weights which are used to perform a variety of ballistic exercises which combine cardiovascular, strength and flexibility training.

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