Printing.com offers help to start-ups

WOULD-be entrepreneurs thinking of applying for up to £10,000 from the Government’s Start Up Loans scheme, which is aimed at boosting enterprise among young people, can now get advice at five new North West drop-in centres.

The £112m initiative, championed by businessman and former Dragons’ Den investor James Caan, provides finance and mentoring for people aged between 18-30 to kick-start their businesses.

The mentoring scheme is being delivered by a number of partners, including Manchester company Printing.com, which helps candidates with business plans and vets loan applications.

AIM-listed Printing.com has committed 36 of its design studios around the country to support the project, five of which are in the North West.

The studios are  in Liverpool, Bury, Burnley, Lancaster and Carlisle.  They join a Printing.com advice and support network that covers many parts of the country, from Durham in the North East to Exeter in the South West.

As well as providing finance, a key element of the Start-Up Loans scheme is business mentoring.  This aspect begins with helping with the business plan before the loan is approved, followed up with on-going mentoring over the first year.

 Printing.com was founded by entrepreneur Tony Rafferty at the age of 24 with a £3,000 loan from his father, operating from home with only a computer, a laser printer and a fax machine.

Mr Rafferty said: “We think the Start Up Loans scheme is a great way to help young people in any town start a business and we’re glad to support an initiative that offers meaningful and practical support for the next generation of entrepreneurs.”

The Start Up Loans scheme aims to support 45,000 young business people by 2015.