Date: Thursday 15 July 2010 Venue: The Fence Gate, 560 Wheatley Lane Road, Fence, Burnley, BB12 9EE Status: PRIME attended The Open Day programme is a government business support road show, designed to provide free information and support to businesses, through a series of exhibitions across the country. It is organised by HM Revenue and Customs, who - – - read more >

Date: Wednesday 19 May 2010 Venue: Hilton Blackpool, North Promenade, Blackpool, FY1 2JQ Status: PRIME attended The Open Day programme is the biggest government business support road show, designed to provide free information and support to businesses, through a series of exhibitions across the country. It is organised by HM Revenue and Customs, who invite local organisations - – - read more >

Date: Thursday 13 May 2010 Venue: Haydock Park Race, St Helens, WA12 0HQ Status: PRIME recommended event Be Inspired – Business Events for 2012   London 2012 One to One Business Advice and Support Helping to support Northwest businesses to prepare and meet the requirements of London 2012 click here to register <http://www.businesseventsfor2012.co.uk/register.php> The Northwest Regional Development Agency - – - read more >

Date: Wednesday 9 December 2009. Time: 1pm to 4.30pm Venue: The Freemasons’ Hall, 36 Bridge Street, Manchester M3 3BT Status: PRIME event View map and directions Are you over 50 and thinking of starting a business or becoming self-employed? Then come along to PRIME’s FREE taster workshop in Manchester city centre. * Decide if self-employment - – - read more >

Anne Walsh, 53 from Manchester, went from BT operations manager to quirky craftswoman, when she applied for voluntary redundancy. Anne was the breadwinner for a disabled husband and three children. Fed up with her office job, Anne promised herself she would change her life when she turned 50. Anne applied for voluntary redundancy, sold her - – - read more >

With the credit famine now biting hard all over the country there’s a glimmer of hope in the North West. The Northwest Regional Development Agency, which is part of government, has put together a scheme with local partners aimed at new and small businesses. You can apply for any size of loan between £3,000 and - – - read more >

Date: Thursday 05 March 2009 – 12 noon to 7pm Venue: Floral Pavilion Theatre, Marine Promenade, New Brighton, Wirral CH45 2JS Venue details and map Status: PRIME attended This all-day free drop-in event will help you start your business – or decide if you are ready to take the plunge. Guests include Roger Phillips and Linda Mcdermott - – - read more >

It’s easy to be cynical about the constant stream of awards we are all treated to in the media. But where they work best is at the regional level. The PR they generate is of some use to smaller businesses, who often serve a local rather than national market. And the chances of winning or - – - read more >

Entries are now being sought for next year’s awards for women-owned businesses in the North West of England. There are six categories (including the ageist Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award – must be under 30 years of age). The prizes are £2,000 per category, with £1,000 to the runner up, and a top prize - – - read more >

“Services are falling away thick and fast. There are fewer post offices, fewer bus services. Villagers were in danger of becoming isolated from one another.” This was the thought process that sparked Ann Davidson into creating My Village News, a local magazine which is attempting to bring her community back together.   After being made - – - read more >

A new small-business award has been launched for those who live on Merseyside, backed by the Liverpool Daily Post and Dominique Faversham Group. The prize is 12 months’ mentoring and support, and a loan of up to £100,000. There are three age categories, including one for people aged 50+. The closing date is noon on - – - read more >

Friday 30th March 2007, from 1pm to 4pm Halton Community Partnership Trust, The Old Police Station, Mersey Rd, Runcorn, WA7 1DF Streetmap If you have a business idea or would like to start up your own business, then come along to this FREE start up information session. It’s run by Halton Borough Council, in partnership - – - read more >

Elizabeth King, 51, and Vanessa Payne, 39, run a new car wash service in Cheshire. The business is based on Vanessa’s professional expertise in car valeting and Liz’s hands-on approach and willingness to learn something entirely new. The two women were friends before deciding to run a business together. “We are both horsey and we - – - read more >

Being Scottish, Eleanor Dowds, 53, probably appreciates the well-known words of Burns about the best-laid schemes of mice and men “going aft agley”. Having worked for more than 30 years as a nurse, Eleanor, who is based in Cheshire, has been planning a move into self-employment for her middle years – but her plans have - – - read more >

Harry Dennis set up his own business in October 2005, when he was 51. Based in Stockport, Harry has worked in the chemical industry his entire career and has now built on his experience by setting up an environmental consultancy, Dennis Environmental Ltd, which specialises in waste management, in particular waste minimisation and hazardous waste - – - read more >