Firms in Bury are being urged to take up the support of a borough business club to help them thrive.

After almost eight years on from the launch of the Made In Bury Business Academy, 144 start-ups have come through with clear cohesive plans for the future.

With more than 70 per cent of them still trading today, it bucks the national trend by more than half.

In the UK, six out of 10 new start-up businesses fail within two years.

And in April last year, the Made in Bury Business Academy Patrons Club was launched.

Bury businesses gave up their time and expertise, offering mentorship to the members of the "Business Academy class of 2023".

In September, Made In Bury will be offering interest free loans to Bury start-ups via funds generated from the draw, reaffirming its commitment to "helping tomorrow’s businesses today".

Headline Partners Connect Comms and Consilium Wealth Management along with 10 patrons are Bury’s answer to popular business panel TV show Dragon’s Den. These businesses will offer mentorship going forward and become the loan panel, ensuring funds go to help as many borough firms as possible.

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Debi and Phil Fellone, managing partners of Made in Bury, are focused on challenging these statistics by helping new start-up businesses with four things that they need to survive in in the early years.

These include a support network of like-minded people going through the same challenges and an understanding of the skills needed to build and grow a business.

Access to funding in the early stages as well as to a mentor with experience are also vital.

And the business academy offers those benefits "under one roof", providing a support network and training along with the launch of interest free loans.

Debi and Phil deliver the academy modules with assistance from several Bury businesses, which add real value as guest speakers sharing their expertise and learnings.

The next academy course starts in September and Made in Bury is now on the lookout for 20 new start-ups and there is a discovery meeting on June 11 from 6pm to 7pm at Europa House, BusinessLodge. Businesses under three years old are invited to attend the free event and learn more about the academy.

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The modules covered over the 18 meetings will be discussed and attendees will hear from businesses from the current group, past groups and meet some of the academy patrons and mentors.

Made in Bury could not do what it does without the support of its headline partners, Connect Comms and Consilium Wealth Management, and the patrons Aspin FM, JCS Nuclear Solutions, Horsfield & Smith, WHN Solicitors, Stay N Play Doggy Daycare, Dream Big Little One, Platinum Care and Cosalea Café Bars.

If you are a local business owner and would like to help support the next generation of owners, or if you are a new start-up, call 079681 53503 or email debi@madeinbury.co.uk.

Picture caption: Back row: Sara Beaumont from WHN Solicitors, Luke Millington from Stay N Play Doggy Daycare, Liam Gately from Platinum Care, Warren Court from Aspen FM and Debi Fellone from Made in Bury.

Front row: Oscar Majid from Connect Comms, Lisa Moore from Cosalea, Phil Fellone from Made in Bury, Sonja Butterworth from Dream Big Little One and Wayne Coleman from Consilium Wealth Management