Riverside is a girl's best friend

Published by Jon Land for Riverside Group in Housing

A Liverpool woman is hoping to get her jewellery venture off the ground, following a new business networking event organised by social landlord Riverside.

Amy Wood, 23, a self employed jeweller silversmith, dropped in to the event at the Meridian Business Village in Hunts Cross, Merseyside to find out more about expanding her business enterprise.
 
As part of its regeneration mission, Riverside brought local businesses and support agencies together, with Merseyside residents, to offer tailored advice for those seeking help with a new enterprise, or looking to develop an existing one.

Visitor Amy, who designs and makes bespoke jewellery in silver and gold, was delighted with the advice she received from experts at the event.

She said: “As a creative person I am not at all business minded.  It was great to speak to people who could advise about how to go about developing a business plan and help with book keeping.”

Amy hopes to find a workshop premises soon, as she is currently working from her parents’ garage.

She added: “I will be meeting with Train 2000 to go through the business planning process.  And since the event I’ve had a request for a commission for jewellery from one of the other visitors, so things are looking up already.”

Exhibitors at the event included Springboard, Riverside’s project to support jobless residents in Liverpool, Business Link North West, Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, Liverpool Business Network, Prince’s Trust and Halton People into Jobs among others.