InBiz helps nearly 130 South London Entrepreneurs into Business

InBiz in Borough High Street has helped deliver 129 people from Lambeth, Southwark and Wandsworth from benefits into self employment in the past 12 months.

InBiz specialises in promoting and developing self employment and entrepreneurship as a way into sustainable employment. One person who has received help in launching a business is Helen Ogedengbe-Awobajo, 39, from Orpington, Kent.

Helen had experience as an IT consultant and had also run a catering business as well as completing community projects with youths in Brixton, Haringey, Stratford, Hackney and Woolwich. After a serious accident, Helen found it difficult to return to work. She wanted to find a job which would allow her to remain in control of her work routine and have the freedom and independence to make her own business decisions.

Although she had the IT skills to launch a consultancy business, she needed some help with the practical day-to-day elements of running a business. Helen turned to InBiz for help and support to get her business off the ground.

At the office in Borough High Street, Helen was assigned her own personal business adviser, Thomas Ashton. Working with Thomas, Helen was able to devise a business plan encompassing tax, marketing, insurance and bookkeeping.

Helen found that Thomas was on hand to offer more than just business advice, he was always on hand whenever Helen felt de-motivated or lacking in confidence. Setting up her business with InBiz’s help also allowed Helen to test-trade her business. This allowed her to trade for six months, while still claiming benefits, to test the viability of her business.

Having successfully completed test trading, Helen’s business is now up and running. She said, “Having InBiz by my side made the leap into self employment much easier. Launching a business can be daunting, but having someone to provide advice, and support you when you’re having doubts, makes a huge difference. Without that support, I would not have been able to launch my business.”

Richie Hamden, InBiz Area Manager in London, said, “Helen is a good example of the work InBiz does in South London. Helen had the IT knowledge to launch her own consultancy business, but needed help from InBiz to develop the practical business skills she would need to make her business a success.”

InBiz Preess Release