Business Start-Up Support Scheme (BSUS)

Our Business Start-Up Support Scheme (BSUS) is a £1.4 million project that encourages enterprise and helps new businesses get off the ground, supporting them in their pre-start phase and challenging early years of trading.

It’s open to anyone thinking of starting a business and SME businesses less than 3 years old.

Enterprise events and outreach in local communities encourage more people to think about starting in business – including young people in schools and colleges.

Through 1-2-1 sessions with one or more of our experienced business advisers, clients can review and develop their business idea, put together or update their business plan and get practical advice on a range of topics. Advisers also link them into sources of finance and wider support.

The BSUS scheme has helped 1,200 individuals looking to start a business. More than 540 have started so far, with more in the pipeline. It has also assisted 340 young businesses and generated £80m GVA for Cumbria.

Alongside this our partner, the University of Cumbria, works with its students and graduates to encourage entrepreneurship and help them start in business.

All BSUS start-ups enjoy a year’s free membership of Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, helping link them into Cumbria’s business community.

The package of free support includes a three-day course covering the basics of starting a business, plus a range of full and half day workshops, which run throughout the county.

The scheme is part funded by Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, the University of Cumbria, district councils and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).