The Made in Bury Business Academy welcomed its 10th cohort of start-ups this week at a special “Meet the Mentors” event, held on Thursday 18th September at the Red Hall Hotel.
The Academy, launched in 2016, was created to give new businesses in Bury the best possible start. With a mix of expert coaching, one to one mentoring, and a supportive community, the programme helps entrepreneurs through the exciting but often challenging early years. Survival rates for start-ups that have access to this kind of support are significantly higher than the national average, proving the value of initiatives like Made in Bury.
This year, 18 new local businesses, all under three years old, have joined the Academy’s 10 month programme, which covers 18 specially designed modules to help them grow. The “Meet the Mentors” event gave them the chance to connect with Patrons and Mentors who will be by their side throughout the journey, sharing experience, guidance, and encouragement.
Made in Bury’s Debi and Phil Fellone were joined by Headline Partner and Patron Warren Court from Aspin Group, and Patrons Sara Beaumont from WHN, Liam Gately, Katy Richardson from Cross Plant Hire and Andy Berry from Berry Electrical Services who are passionate about giving back to the community and helping the businesses of tomorrow.
Mentors in attendance were Luke Millington from Stay N Play Doggy Daycare, Lisa Moore from Cosalea, Liz Cronshaw from Grow Your Mindset and Oliver Caunt from JCS Nuclear Solutions.
Together, the Patrons and Mentors bring a wealth of knowledge from across different industries, creating a supportive network that reflects the very best of Bury’s business community.
The Patrons also sit on the panel for Made in Bury Interest Free Loan’s launched in September 2024. This not-for-profit initiative provides loans of £2,000 to £5,000 to help new businesses across the borough grow and thrive.
Speaking at the event, Made in Bury’s Phil Fellone said:
“It’s incredible to see the next generation of Bury businesses coming through the Academy. Our Patrons and Mentors bring a wealth of expertise and are here to guide them. The energy and ambition in the room was inspiring, the future of business in Bury is looking very bright.”
