Pop up shop set to help budding entrepreneurs

Partnership NK (North Kesteven District Council backed by numerous local businesses) has acquired a vacant unit on Navigation Yard and intends to rent it out for up to three months at a time to prospective businesspeople.

A number of entrepreneurs had expressed an interest and came along last week to learn more. One woman has been running a soft furnishing business from home and visiting shows, and wanted a permanent base in a shop.

Sleaford Lions and Lioness Clubs were interested in renting the unit out, when not occupied, as a charity shop, raising money for a number of local small charities on the same lines as another club which did it in Witton, Essex and managed to raise £15,000 in a year.

A third person was a craftswoman making bags and other items who would like to start out in retail and was seeking business advice, which is available too.

Luisa McIntosh, from the Partnership NK project, said there had been a definite change in atmosphere since all the other units in the yard had been filled, with a lot of people flowing through.

The partnership would also help with marketing, but would charge rent to be fair to other businesses in the town.

She said: “We just need one really good business idea at first and I am confident we have a budding entrepreneur soon to kick start the project. We will help with promotion and business support to help people realise issues early on and then help them relocate within another unit in town.”

It can also help those seeking to branch out and test the water in a new town. For details, visit www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/pop up or email [email protected]