A project offering fully funded business start-up support is going out on the road this summer, inviting budding entrepreneurs from across the county to join them at informal information sessions.

One of these will be held at the Dracaena Centre in Falmouth on August 4 and will enable interested individuals to find out more about the Outset Cornwall programme, ask questions of the advisors and sign up for the programme.

The Outset team has been instrumental in the creation of over 500 new businesses and nearly 700 jobs in Cornwall since the start of the programme back in 2009. Included in this number is Pam Faulkner, who joined the Outset programme before setting up her business Fast Track Fabrics based in Penryn, which supplies made to measure soft furnishings.

“I wasn’t ready to retire, and I had always wanted to run my own business," she said. "I knew that if I didn’t grasp the opportunity now, it would probably never happen. Both the Outset sessions and the advisors helped me look at my business critically, encouraged me to think innovatively and change direction when I needed to.”

Programme director, Kate Perkin, said: "Outset’s flexible approach empowers people to take charge of their lives and overcome a range of potential barriers or challenges on their journey to self-employment.

After a brief time away, we are delighted the Outset Programme is now back to continue the great work the team has achieved over the last seven years. We are urging anyone interested in starting their own business to get in touch to find out if Outset could help them.”

The Outset Programme is supporting people within Cornwall to explore the possibility of becoming self-employed or start a business through a series of funded workshops that are taking place across the county.

Anyone interested in attending one of the many upcoming information sessions should go to outsetcornwall.co.uk, email info@outsetcornwall.co.uk or call 0800 917 4324.