SPRING is the season of new beginnings, and what better time to start afresh and pursue your entrepreneurial ventures? Business Link in the East of England has just launched a new workshop programme for April-September 2010 aimed at start-up businesses,

SPRING is the season of new beginnings, and what better time to start afresh and pursue your entrepreneurial ventures? Business Link in the East of England has just launched a new workshop programme for April-September 2010 aimed at start-up businesses, so those with ambitions of becoming self-employed can rest assured that advice is at hand every step of the way.

Business Link's start up workshops offer expert guidance and impartial advice for entrepreneurs at a range of stages, from those simply thinking about taking the business plunge, to consideration of the necessary basics, to those in and beyond the start-up planning stages. Join the thousands who have already made use of this extensive service: in the past year, over 16,800 delegates have attended one or more of Business Link's 1,850 start up workshops, and 3,000 business have been helped to get off the ground. And the best thing - all of the workshops are free.

The range of locations across Cambridgeshire combined with the variety of workshops offered, means there really is something for everyone, be they an entrepreneur in Ely, or a would-be business person in Wisbech. All workshops are presented by business professionals who take a hands-on approach in helping attendees to avoid the common mistakes that can blight entrepreneurs and the self-employed as they undertake business planning for themselves.

Cambridgeshire-based Matt Clements was able to make use of the Business Link workshops service after injury cut short his promising career as a professional footballer. He made the decision to combine his extensive sports skills with acquired business knowledge and start his own sports coaching company, Soccer Allstars. Supplementing professional training with coaching experience and with Business Link's Starting Your Own Business workshop meant Matt was able to familiarise himself with a wide range of business and commercial concepts: he explains, "Business Link's Starting Your Own Business workshop helped confirm that my ideas were the right ones. It also identified things I simply hadn't thought about."

Pat Smith, Chief Executive of Business Link in the East of England, said, "We know that 81% of businesses that started with the help of Business Link survive beyond three years. This figure tops the national average by 15%.

"This new programme of workshops, supported by web, phone and online advice, enables prospective and early-stage entrepreneurs to get the help and support they need to turn their business ideas into a reality."

If you would like to find out more about the free, professional and impartial advice provided by Business Link in the East of England to small and medium-sized enterprises at any stage, visit www.businesslink.gov.uk/east, or speak to an experienced Adviser by calling 08457 17 16 15.

The full brochure can be viewed at http://cde.cerosmedia.com/1T4ba0c43f302c2012.cde

Viv Starkiss and Simon Crosland.