
Mentoring for the Over 50s
Since the project started a year ago, the Chamber’s Over 50s business mentors have engaged with more than 50 people aged over 50 who are looking to go into business and be their own boss. Business advisors Fiona Grist and Lynda Draper are often helping older people who have been made redundant or who are at the early stages of retirement.
“Most of our start-ups are lifestyle businesses,” says Fiona Grist. “For younger people, access to finance is a major issue in starting a business, but the over 50s are often in a better position. They often have funding, whether that’s through redundancy or early retirement, to do something in business that they’ve always wanted to do. They have a greater maturity too. Their concerns aren’t really any different from anyone under 50 when it comes to starting a business. They can be a bit more cautious and risk averse, especially if they’re investing their savings or redundancy money.”
Help, advice and guidance begins with a one-day start-up course at the Chamber. These sessions are run every month, as Fiona explains.
“We go through market research, marketing, elevator pitches and getting people to talk comfortably about themselves and their business. We cover cash flow, forecasts, tax, National Insurance and VAT, bookkeeping, raising finance, business plan, legal status, insurances. It’s a real primer and a taster for each area.”
The workshop is followed up with 1 to 1 mentoring from Fiona or Lynda, every month until the business starts, followed by regular support for the next three years. Mentoring is very informal and can include home visits or chats over cups of coffee, in a relaxed environment. There are also regular drop in sessions at the Chamber, bringing together start-up businesses.
“Our role is to ask questions and make suggestions,” Fiona says. “Sometimes people – men and women – can be lacking in self-confidence because of what has happened to them in the past, perhaps with redundancy or unemployment. Our job is also to help and encourage. Lots of people need help with being able to sell. Self-belief and self-confidence are hugely important.
“The message is definitely ‘you’re not on your own’. Isolation and loneliness are definitely big problems for society and the Isle of Wight community. We’re helping to support people by encouraging them into self-employment, helping people who have come out of a work environment, preventing them from becoming isolated.”
Events
april
16apr1:00 pm2:00 pmIW Chamber Meeting with Bob Seely MP
Event Details
Friday 16 April 2021 1.00pm - 2.00pm IW Chamber Members Only ! Join us for our next members session with Bob Seely MP. This will be an interactive session allowing attendees to give
Event Details
Friday 16 April 2021
1.00pm – 2.00pm
IW Chamber Members Only !
Join us for our next members session with Bob Seely MP. This will be an interactive session allowing attendees to give feedback of your recent business experiences and what your business/industry needs moving forward. Spaces will be limited to ensure that everyone gets a chance to speak.
Time
(Friday) 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
20apr9:00 am4:00 pmEmergency First Aid at Work Course – Delivered by Good Skills Training
Event Details
Tuesday 20th April 2021 YMCA, Shanklin 9.00am – 4.00pm IW Chamber members - £65 +vat per person This one-day course is designed to give delegates the knowledge, skills and confidence to help those that
Event Details
Tuesday 20th April 2021
YMCA, Shanklin
9.00am – 4.00pm
IW Chamber members – £65 +vat per person
This one-day course is designed to give delegates the knowledge, skills and confidence to help those that have become unconscious, and those with minor injuries. The Emergency First Aid at Work Course also looks at the responsibilities of the Emergency First Aider. On successfully completing this course, attendees will be confident, safe, prompt and effective emergency first aider.
£65 +vat per person (this includes the certificate and manual)
This course is delivered by Good Skills Training.
Measures have been put in place to consider the risks of Covid-19. This includes social distancing (where possible), individual gloves, maks and anti-bacterial gel – all provided by Good Skills Training (you may of course bring your own) and revised training and delivery techniques.
Time
(Tuesday) 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Location
YMCA
Winchester House, Sandown Road, Shanklin, Isle of Wight, PO37 6HU
20apr10:00 am12:00 pmResilience during challenging times - delivered by L&M Plus Consulting
Event Details
Tuesday 20 April 2021 10.00am – 12.00pm IW Chamber members - FREE This 2-hour (including breaks) online session is offered to you FREE of charge by fellow Chamber member L&M Plus Consulting.
Event Details
Tuesday 20 April 2021
10.00am – 12.00pm
IW Chamber members – FREE
This 2-hour (including breaks) online session is offered to you FREE of charge by fellow Chamber member L&M Plus Consulting. It will help you develop your mental resilience and personal effectiveness during the challenging times – whether it is the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic or other events and circumstances.
What is covered:
– how we, as individuals, deal with unwanted change (for example, lockdown or other undesirable events);
– stress and its impact on our health (both physical and mental);
– what is resilience and strategies to build personal resilience during challenging times.
Learning outcomes: By the end of the session you will:
– understand resilience, pressure, stress and adversity and their association with mental health;
– be able to use a number of strategies, skills, tactics and tools to bolster your mental resilience and wellbeing.
You will receive great handouts with resilience and wellbeing tips, links to free online resources and your Personal Resilience Development Plan template which you can use to continue building your resilience after this session.
This course is delivered by L&M Plus Consulting
Time
(Tuesday) 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
29apr9:30 am12:30 pm50 Plus Start Me Up - Free Business Start Up Course
Event Details
We offer new businesses the opportunity to take their ideas from paper into practice. As part of the 50 plus Start Me Up Programme we offer a free business seminar
Event Details
We offer new businesses the opportunity to take their ideas from paper into practice. As part of the 50 plus Start Me Up Programme we offer a free business seminar aimed at people over 50 who are starting a business. Get the tools you need to take your idea from the drawing board to the real world.
This course is designed for those with a business idea through to those who have been in business for six months.
This course will be held via video call on Zoom. All registrants will be emailed the meeting ID and password a few days before the course along with the course handout pack.
To book a place on the course please click here.
Time
(Thursday) 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
29apr9:30 am12:30 pmBusiness Start Up Course
Event Details
We offer new businesses the opportunity to take their ideas from paper into practice. We offer a business seminar aimed at people who are starting a business. Get the tools
Event Details
We offer new businesses the opportunity to take their ideas from paper into practice. We offer a business seminar aimed at people who are starting a business. Get the tools you need to take your idea from the drawing board to the real world. This course is designed for those with a business idea through to those who have been in business for six months.
This course is available for non-members and will be held via Zoom call. All registrants will be emailed the meeting ID and password a few days before the course along with the course handout pack.
Please note there is a £5 admin fee for this course.
This course is available for non-members
Time
(Thursday) 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
may
11may9:00 am12:30 pmFire Marshal Course – Delivered by Good Skills Training
Event Details
Tuesday 11 May 2021 YMCA, Shanklin 9.00am – 12.30pm IW Chamber members - £60 +vat per person This Fire Marshal Course, delivered by Good Skills Training is a half day course designed specifically
Event Details
Tuesday 11 May 2021
YMCA, Shanklin
9.00am – 12.30pm
IW Chamber members – £60 +vat per person
This Fire Marshal Course, delivered by Good Skills Training is a half day course designed specifically for those who have been designated with the responsibilities of Fire Marshal or Fire Warden. The course will look at the legal responsibilities of both the company and the individual. By the end of this course learners will understand what their duties as a fire marshal are.
£60 +vat per person (this includes the certificate and manual)
This course is delivered by Good Skills Training.
Measures have been put in place to consider the risks of Covid-19. This includes social distancing (where possible), individual gloves, maks and anti-bacterial gel – all provided by Good Skills Training (you may of course bring your own) and revised training and delivery techniques.
Time
(Tuesday) 9:00 am - 12:30 pm
Location
IW Chamber of Commerce
Mill Court Business Centre Furrlongs Newport Isle of Wight PO30 2AA
12may9:00 am5:00 pmMental Health at Work Course - Good Skills Training Ltd
Event Details
Wednesday 12 May 2021 YMCA, Shanklin 9.00am – 5.00pm £99 +vat per person Who is this for? The QNUK Level 2 Award in Mental Health at Work (RQF) is the ideal introduction to
Event Details
Wednesday 12 May 2021
YMCA, Shanklin
9.00am – 5.00pm
£99 +vat per person
Who is this for? The QNUK Level 2 Award in Mental Health at Work (RQF) is the ideal introduction to understanding mental health in the workplace. The qualification covers the most common mental health conditions, how to identify potential mental health concerns in colleagues and then how to discuss their needs and assist them to access suitable services and support.
£99 +VAT per person for IW Chamber members (this includes the certificate and manual)
Time
(Wednesday) 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Location
YMCA
Winchester House, Sandown Road, Shanklin, Isle of Wight, PO37 6HU
13may10:30 am12:00 pmNetworking South East
Event Details
Thursday 13 May 2021 10.30am - 12.00pm IW Chamber members - FREE Non members - £15 +vat Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Dorset, and Isle of Wight Chambers of Commerce are delighted to present Networking South East –
Event Details
Thursday 13 May 2021
10.30am – 12.00pm
IW Chamber members – FREE
Non members – £15 +vat
Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Dorset, and Isle of Wight Chambers of Commerce are delighted to present Networking South East – a new initiative created to connect the businesses of the southern Counties.
Networking is vital for businesses, even more so now we start this New Year, and we aim to offer you the opportunity to network virtually on a much larger scale, by connecting with our neighbouring counties to present this new event with an abundance of business and networking opportunities to be made.
What will you get from attending this event?
- Ability to meet a larger number of businesses than you would at a normal networking.
- The opportunity to practice proper networking, elevators speeches, etc.
- Make ideal connections through narrowing questions.
- An enjoyable environment for those who enjoy virtual networking.
Please note: when registering for this event, you are giving us permission to share your details with other attendees. We will share your name, your business and your business email address.
Time
(Thursday) 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
21may7:30 am9:30 amIW Chamber Business Breakfast at The Garlic Farm
Event Details
Friday 21 May 2021 The Garlic Farm, Newchurch 7.30am - 9.30am £15.00 per person Further details and bookings will be available soon.
Event Details
Friday 21 May 2021
The Garlic Farm, Newchurch
7.30am – 9.30am
£15.00 per person
Further details and bookings will be available soon.
Time
(Friday) 7:30 am - 9:30 am
Location
The Garlic Farm
The Garlic Farm, Mersley Ln, Newchurch, Sandown PO36 0NR
27may9:30 am12:30 pm50 Plus Start Me Up - Free Business Start Up Course
Event Details
We offer new businesses the opportunity to take their ideas from paper into practice. As part of the 50 plus Start Me Up Programme we offer a free business seminar
Event Details
We offer new businesses the opportunity to take their ideas from paper into practice. As part of the 50 plus Start Me Up Programme we offer a free business seminar aimed at people over 50 who are starting a business. Get the tools you need to take your idea from the drawing board to the real world.
This course is designed for those with a business idea through to those who have been in business for six months.
This course will be held via video call on Zoom. All registrants will be emailed the meeting ID and password a few days before the course along with the course handout pack.
To book a place on the course please click here.
Time
(Thursday) 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
27may9:30 am12:30 pmBusiness Start Up Course
Event Details
We offer new businesses the opportunity to take their ideas from paper into practice. We offer a business seminar aimed at people who are starting a business. Get the tools
Event Details
We offer new businesses the opportunity to take their ideas from paper into practice. We offer a business seminar aimed at people who are starting a business. Get the tools you need to take your idea from the drawing board to the real world. This course is designed for those with a business idea through to those who have been in business for six months.
This course is available for non-members and will be held via Zoom call. All registrants will be emailed the meeting ID and password a few days before the course along with the course handout pack.
Please note there is a £5 admin fee for this course.
This course is available for non-members
Time
(Thursday) 9:30 am - 12:30 pm