Blue Orchid is holding a workshop on sales techniques and materials - 26 November 2008

Business support agency Blue Orchid is holding a workshop on sales techniques and materials, covering how to get your sales pitch right, target customers the right way and get the kind of material to promote your business.

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Blue Orchid holds an interactive course on selling techniques - 6 October 2008

Business Support Agency Blue Orchid holds an interactive course on selling techniques.  The free event, from 10am – 4pm

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Tips for Starting Business in UK - 29 October 2008

Free business advice is available for people from Eastern Europe in Bolton. 

The Blue Orchid support agency is offering would-be business owners free one-to-one advice. 

Its Exploring Enterprise business support scheme and available on request before starting a business.

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Free advice for aspiring business owners in Greater Manchester - October 27 2008

Would-be female business owners in Greater Manchester are being invited to join a newly launched networking and business advice programme.

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Liverpool Daily Post - 23rd October 2008

Living it up with…

Jamie Crook, 43, is director of business support and training company Blue Orchid.

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Eastern Europeans can gain support for setting up business in West Lancashire - Oct 22 2008

Midweek Southport Visiter
EASTERN European entrepreneurs in West Lancashire are being offered advice on how to start up their own businesses.

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Business Advice for Europeans 22nd October 2008

LLD Business

Support agency Blue Orchid is helping Eastern European people in Merseyside start their own businesses by offering free one-to-one advice sessions. 

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Business support agency Blue Orchid is holding a tax workshop - 23 October 2008

Business support agency Blue Orchid is holding a tax workshop, which will cover self assessment, how to complete a tax return and advice on expenses. 

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Eastern Europe who need help to set their businesses - 14 October 2008

People from Eastern Europe who need help to set their businesses can attend a free advice session from 1pm to 4pm on Thursday at St Peter’s RC High School in Kirkmanshulme Lane, Manchester.

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Mentors want to make dream real - 13 October 2008

Aspiring business owners in Oldham are being offered free business mentoring advice.

Run by business support agency Blue Orchid the advice sessions target at all potential business owners in the Oldham area.

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Liverpool City Council - Drumming up jobs - 10 October 2008

An African drummer will be "calling in" people to attend a recruitment event being held as part of the Liverpool Black History Month.

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Seminar will aid business - 10 October 2008

Aspiring business owners across Oldham are being offered free business mentoring advice through a series of special information sessions.

Sessions, which are being run by business support agency Blue Orchid will start with an exploring enterprise session at Oldham Central between 1pm and 4pm tomorrow.

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Business support agency Blue Orchid is holding a workshop on Guerilla Marketing - 8 October 2008

Business support agency Blue Orchid is holding a workshop on Guerilla Marketing – what it is now, how to do it and why it can help your business.  The free event, from 10am – 4pm, is at the Cotton Exchange, Old Hall Street, Liverpool.

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Young guns Leading the turnround - 1 October 2008

Merseyside’s dependency culture is turning round and it is the young leading the charge. The area has 23 businesses per 1,000 people compared with 33.1 for the region and 40.4 for the UK as a whole. But start-up rates among 18 to 24-year-olds are twice the national average. Over the past decade, the number of businesses has grown by a fifth. Five times more people go self employed every year than in the rest of the UK.

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Would-be women business owners invited to West Cheshire events - 29 September 2008

Would-be female entrepreneurs in West Cheshire are being invited to join a newly launched networking and business advice programme.

The InspirElle programme, which is being run by business support agency Blue Orchid, is staging a series of free events where women can meet successful female entrepreneurs. The programme aims to support and develop female-led enterprises across West Cheshire.

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Passing On Knowledge - 22 September 2008

Mentors play important role in helping other businesspeople develop their skills.
Sharon Nash has been mentoring aspiring accountants for the past 15 years.  “I think it is very important for the profession that we bring along and develop junior staff,” said the CEO of Old Trafford-based chartered accountants Simpson Burgess Nash.

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LDP Business Diary – Business Workshops - 9 Sep 08

Merseyside business support agency Blue Orchid is staging a free advice workshop on bookkeeping for recently-established small businesses, at the Cotton Exchange, Old Hall Street, Liverpool, from 10am-4pm.  For details, call 0845 0170 896 or email d.allman@theblueorchid.co.uk.

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A FREE training workshop for new business owners - 8 Sep 08

A FREE training workshop for new business owners in and around Ellesmere port will be help between 6-9pm on Thursday, September 11, in the Vauxhall Suit at Ellesmere Port Civic Hall, and has been organised by local business support agency Blue Orchid.  Places are in short supply so book now.

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Liverpool Echo – Sea of red tape - 8 Sep 08

LIVERPOOL business support agency Blue Orchid is warning of red tape horror.
It says Merseyside business owners must start preparing for October 1, when a host of red tape measures are due to begin.

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LDP Book-keeping – Business Diary - 3 Sep 08

Merseyside business agency Blue Orchid is staging a free advice on book-keeping for recently established small business, at the Cotton Exchange old hall street, Liverpool, from 10am – 4pm.  Details on 0845 0170 896 or d.allman@theblueorchid.co.uk

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BUSINESS support agency Blue Orchid is offering free mentoring - 3 Sep 08

BUSINESS support agency Blue Orchid is offering free mentoring at a series of seminars around Manchester aimed at encouraging more people, especially women, the disabled and those from ethnic minorities to start their own enterprises.  The events will cover topics such as tax, marketing, managing cashflow.

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Businesses must prepare for ‘red tape day’, warns Blue Orchid - 2 Sep 08

Merseyside business support agency Blue Orchid is staging a free advice workshop on bookkeeping for recently-established small businesses, at the Cotton Exchange, Old Hall Street, Liverpool, from 10am-4pm.  For details, call 0845 0170 896 or email d.allman@theblueorchid.co.uk.

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Free advice for aspiring business owners in Greater Manchester - 27 Aug 08

Aspiring business owners in Greater Manchester are being offered free business mentoring advice.
The ‘exploring enterprise’ sessions, are being run by business support agency Blue Orchid and are funded by the North West Development Agency. The seminar dates are:

• September 10th, 10am-1pm The Workshop, 39 Newport Street, Bolton
• September 17th, 5.30pm-8.30pm e-office, 1 Portland Street, Manchester
• September 25th, 10.30am-1pm Committee Room, Commercial Library, Manchester
• September 25th, 9.30am-1.30pm FAST Centre, North Manchester

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Mersey entrepreneurs targeted by free advice workshops - 26 Aug 08

SIDDI Majubah has made a career of funny business with the aid of Kensington support group Dream High.
They helped him secure funding from Edge Hill Credit Union to set up in business as a clown and entertainer.
His first booking was at Kensington Summer Fun Day where he helped to entertain thousands of visitors.
But his second outing in costume was to a monthly meeting of the Dream High panel of volunteer business advisors.

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No more clowning around in pursuit of a profit - 1 Aug 08

SIDDI Majubah has made a career of funny business with the aid of Kensington support group Dream High.
They helped him secure funding from Edge Hill Credit Union to set up in business as a clown and entertainer.
His first booking was at Kensington Summer Fun Day where he helped to entertain thousands of visitors.
But his second outing in costume was to a monthly meeting of the Dream High panel of volunteer business advisors.

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Business start-up scheme launches 564 businesses - 30 July 08

The Northwest Regional Development Agency’s Business Start Up initiative said today it had aided 564 business start-ups in Greater Manchester during its first year of operation.

The initiative is run by training company A4e and delivered by consortium members Enterprise4All, Business Support Solutions, Bolton Business Ventures, The Prince's Trust and Blue Orchid.

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Business Diary - 16 July 08

Wednesday, July 16
Blue Orchid is holding a full day course to guide the self-employed through self-assessment forms, aided by HMRC. To book a free place contact Blue Orchid on 0845 017 0896 or email d.allman@theblueorchid.co.uk

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Free business advice for aspiring business owners in Bury - 30 June 08

Aspiring business owners in Bury, inspired by hit TV shows ‘Dragon’s Den’ and ‘the Apprentice’, are being offered free business mentoring advice.

The advice sessions, being run by business support agency Blue Orchid, will kick off with a exploring enterprise session at Radcliffe Library on July 8 between 10.30pm and 1pm.

The advice is targeted at all would be business owners particularly women, the disabled and people in black and ethnic minority groups.

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Oldham seminar for aspiring entrepreneurs - 30June 08

A leading business support agency is staging another free seminar for aspiring entrepreneurs in Oldham in response to increasing demand.

The ‘exploring enterprise’ sessions, run by Blue Orchid, have become more and more popular over the last six months and the latest session is being staged to cater to demand. The next seminar will take place on  July 9 at Oldham Library between 1pm – 4pm.  Places must be pre-booked in advance, see contact details below.

The event is targeted at a range of people including those facing redundancy, people wanting a change in lifestyle, those trying to get back into work after being on benefits and people who think they can earn more working for themselves.

The in-depth sessions aim to give advice, support and guidance.

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Free Mentoring for aspiring entrepreneurs - 25 June 08

Aspiring business owners in Ellesmere Port and Neston are being offered free mentoring advice.
The advice sessions, being run by business support agency Blue Orchid, will kick off at a free session at Ellesmere Port library tomorrow (Thursday) from 5-6pm.

The advice is targeted all what be business owners particularly women, the disabled and people in the black ethnic minority groups.

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Agency offers free advice to start-up firms - 24 June 08

LIVERPOOL business support agency Blue Orchid is offering new businesses firms across Merseyside free one-to-one business advice

Spokeswoman Jan Foster said the post start up support is available to firms trading for up to 18 months and will be on offer for the next six weeks only.

She added: “We know that thousands of firms are still opening for business every month in the region.

“But setting up and growing a business can be hard particularly in the first few years. This is where we can help. Our one-to-one sessions cover a broad range of topics including access to finance, credit control, accounts, marketing, staff issues and business planning.

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Disabled community offered free business advice - 23 June 08

Aspiring business owners in Manchester’s disabled community are being offered free business advice.

The advice session at Manchester Deaf Centre on Booth Street East in Chorlton on Medlock is being held on July 1 between 10am and 3.30pm. It is being staged by business support agency Blue Orchid and the charity Leonard Cheshire as part of its ‘Ready to Start’ programme. Advice will be on hand from disabled entrepreneurs who will be explaining their own experiences in business. This includes Christine Wright, whose hearing is impaired, who has opened canine accessories business the Dog Emporium, on High Lane Stockport.

Blind entrepreneur John Perry meanwhile will be relating his experiences of launching radio station.

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Free business advice on offer - 18 June 2008

ASPIRING business owners in Ellesmere port and Neston are being offered free mentoring advice.

The advice sessions, being run by business support agency Blue Orchid, will kick off with a free session at Ellesmere Port Library on June 26 between 5pm and 6pm.

The advice is targeted at all would be business owners particularly women. The disabled and people in black and ethonic minority groups. Blue Orchid business advisor Jan Kalitkin, who ran her own successful business between 1996 and 2002, will be hosting the sessions which will be rolled out at Neston Library and the Atelier Burton Manor..

Ms Kalitkin said the advice is open to people in a variety of situations. If you would like more information or to book a place in a one to one session, please contact the Business Support Team at Blue Orchid 0151 284 7728 Email: info@theblueorchid.co.uk

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Free business advice for aspiring business owners in Ellesmere Port and Neston - 13 June 08

Aspiring business owners in Ellesmere Port and Neston, inspired by hit TV shows ‘Dragon’s Den’ and ‘the Apprentice’, are being offered free business mentoring advice.

The advice sessions, being run by business support agency Blue Orchid, will kick off with a free session at Ellesmere Port Library on June 26 between 5pm and 6pm. The advice is targeted at all would be business owners particularly women, the disabled and people in black and ethnic minority groups.

Blue Orchid business adviser Jan Kalitkin, who ran her own successful business between 1996 and 2002, will be hosting the sessions which will be rolled out at Neston Library and The Atelier, Burton Manor. Ms Kalitkin said the advice is open to people in a variety of situations including those facing to redundancy, people wanting a career change and people wanting to get off benefits.

Merseyside business support agency Blue Orchid is staging a series of free advice workshops for small firms covering a range of topics during June and July. Further details log on to www.theblueorchid.co.uk

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Mersey businesses targeted by free advice workshops - 9 June 08

A leading Merseyside business support agency is staging a series of free advice workshops for recently established small businesses covering a range of issues including book-keeping, tax and e-marketing in June and July.

The workshops are being staged by Blue Orchid at its Liverpool City Centre Old Hall Street offices in the Cotton Exchange and places must be pre-booked in advance.

Blue Orchid spokeswoman Amanda Wilson said the events are designed to help smaller businesses which need additional expertise and guidance.

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Blue Orchid:Free Gorton seminar for aspiring entrepreneurs - 20 May 08

Aspiring entrepreneurs inspired by hit TV shows ‘Dragon’s Den’ and ‘the Apprentice’ are being invited to free seminars on June 10 at St Peter’s High School, Kirkmanshulme Lane Gorton between 1-3pm or 4-6pm. The ‘exploring enterprise’ sessions are being run by business support agency Blue Orchid in partnership with business and enterprise specialist college St Peter’s High School.

The sessions are targeted at all would be business owners and places must be pre-booked in advance, see contact details below. This includes people facing redundancy, people wanting a change in lifestyle, those trying to get back into work after being on benefits and people who think they can earn more working for themselves. The in-depth sessions aim to give advice, support and guidance.

Job placements for unemployed Merseyside people are being offered a European-funded scheme.  Mentorprise, run by business support agency Blue Orchid, offers a three-month placement and intensive on-the-job training.  

Seminars explaining the scheme are at Speke JET centre on June 9.10.16 and 17.  Contact Blue Orchid at 0845 0170 896 or email info@theblueorchid.co.uk or visit www.mentorprise.org.uk

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Blue Orchid: Unemployed targeted by back to work scheme- 15 May 08
Unemployed people wanting to break back into work are being offered job placements at Merseyside firms through a special European funded scheme.

Mentorprise, run by leading Merseyside business support agency Blue Orchid, takes the form of a three month placement where people receive intensive on the job training.  The scheme is backed by the European Social Fund and is open to people across Merseyside.

Blue Orchid director Heather Hayes said Mentorprise is designed to give vital experience to would be entrepreneurs and people looking to get back into employment after being unemployed for a long period.

Blue Orchid has launched a recruitment service to help firms find graduates.   The Manchester city centre outfit has started E-Grad, which is led by Monica Fitzpatrick.

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Mersey entrepreneurs targeted by free advice workshops -
3 April 08
A leading Merseyside business support agency is staging a series of free advice workshops for entrepreneurs covering a range of issues from tax to marketing through-out April.

The workshops are being staged by Blue Orchid at its Old Hall Street offices in the Cotton Exchange and places must be pre-booked in advance.

Blue Orchid director Heather Hayes said the events are designed to help smaller businesses which need additional expertise and guidance.

“Small businesses do not have the luxury of large numbers of staff for every discipline,” she said. “These events focus on areas which require specialist knowledge and expertise.

The workshops are run by people who understand the pressures of running a business. We offer practical advice which focuses on improving firm’s profitability and efficiency.”

Women in Cheshire are being offered free business advice. Business support agency Blue Orchid is running the North West Start Up programme, funded by the North West Development Agency, which aims to help drive the number of businesses in Cheshire.

Blue Orchid director Heather Hayes said the support for female-led businesses is considerable and pointed to the Chancellors new £12.5m fund for investing in women-owned businesses announced in the Budget.

We know women by nature are self-starters and highly organised, she said.
These are key skills in running a business. There are brillient ideas out there for a massive range of smaller businesses in Cheshire.

"Our business advisers have all been self employed and they can all give one-to-one advice sessions to help get firms off the ground."

Ms Hayes said north west business startup also aims to support and encourage business within minority groups such as people with disabilities, black and minority ethnic groups and those living in socially and economically disadvantaged areas.

For further details and to book a free place, contact Blue Orchid, or email info@theblueorchid.co.uk

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Blue Orchid: New funding boost for social enterprises - 10 March 08
A leading North West business support agency is urging social entrepreneurs to take advantage of Gordon Brown’s  pledge to pump £10m into the sector.

Blue Orchid, which delivers business start up advice to thousands of firms across the region, said the initiative is part of a wider government drive to encourage social enterprises. Social enterprises are businesses with social or environmental objectives whose surpluses are reinvested into that purpose, rather than being driven by a need to maximise profit for shareholders and owners.

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Aspiring social entrepreneurs invited to Manchester workshop - 20 February 08
Aspiring entrepreneurs interested in setting up a social enterprise are being invited to a free awareness workshop in Manchester.

The event is being held by business support agency Blue Orchid at the Kath Locke Centre in Moss Side on February 26 between 2pm and 4pm and bookings need to be made in advance.

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Small firms urged to tackle credit crunch "head on" - 07 January 08
A leading business support agency says small firms need to ‘thoroughly examine’ alternative finance sources as the credit crunch bites harder in 2008. Blue Orchid, which advises thousands of firms across the North West, said firms are finding it increasingly difficult to source cash from...

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Free New Year seminars for aspiring entrepreneurs - 03 January 08
Aspiring entrepreneurs wanting to start the New Year by becoming their own boss are being invited to a series of free seminars across Manchester. The free to attend sessions are targeted at all would be business owners...

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Would be business owners invited to Moss Side - 04 October 07
Would be business owners in inner city Manchester are being invited to a free business workshop on October 19 in Moss Side. The workshop is being held by business support agency Blue Orchid at the Phil Martin Centre, 137 Princess Road, between 2pm and 4pm...

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New Manchester operations manager for Blue Orchid - 03 October 07
Leading North West business support agency, Blue Orchid, has appointed a new operations manager in Manchester. Jan Foster will manage Blue Orchid’s contracts to develop enterprise in deprived areas for the North West Development Agency and Manchester City Council...

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A "banana skin" for business owners, Blue Orchid warns - 01 October 07
A business support agency is urging business owners to start preparing for a raft of new regulations that are due to be introduced on October 1. Blue Orchid Managing Director, Jim Crook, said the date, nicknamed red tape day...

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"In the City" warm up workshop - 28 Sept 07
Musicians and professionals striving to make it in the music industry, are being invited to an 'In the City' warm up seminar hosted by Inspiral Carpets bass player, Martyn Walsh. Martyn, who is working for business support agency Blue Orchid, is holding the event, titled ‘Infiltrate’ at...

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Oldham workshops for would be business owners - 21 Sept 07
Aspiring business owners in Greater Manchester are being invited to a series of entrepreneurial workshops in Oldham. The free to attend workshops are targeted at all would be business owners particularly in deprived areas. The in-depth sessions aim to give advice, support and...

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Road Thrill - 20 Sept 07
When Liverpool’s celebrities and party people want to travel in style, they call on the services of the city’s very own Mr.T. George Cover’s company, Prestige Traveller, offers luxury transport in an American Chevy which is a dead ringer for the vehicle made famous in The A-Team TV series...

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Face up to facebook - 14 Sept 07
Blue Orchid, a business support agency, has urged small firms to crack down on users of Facebook, the online social network. Apart from the associated productivity issues, Blue Orchid's MD Jim Crook warns...

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Business support agency urges crackdown on Facebook - 08 Sept 07
The UK's four million small firms need to take a tough stance on Facebook the latest website to explode on the scene, a leading business support agency warned last night. Blue Orchid, which provides business advice to thousands of firms, is responding to reports that Lloyds TSB...

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Social Networking - XX Sept 07
Jim Crook, Managing Director of business support agency Blue Orchid, warns business owners to take a tough line on social networking websites amid growing concerns of dropping staff productivity and security risks...

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Business workshop for rockers - 30 August 07
Musicians striving to make it in the music business are being invited to a workshop at Oldham’s Castle venue on Union Street hosted by Inspiral Carpets bass player Martin Walsh. Oldham born Martin, is working for business support agency Blue Orchid which advises start up businesses...

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Blue Orchid's rapid growth continues - 10 July 07
One of the North West’s fastest growing companies has secured two major new contracts. Business support agency Blue Orchid has won contracts with the North West Development Agency (NWDA) and Manchester City Council (MCC), to encourage and nurture entrepreneurs...

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