A TEAM of business experts with more than 30 years of commercial experience are set to help new East Lancashire entrepreneurs on the road to success.

The five advisers at Blackburn & District Enterprise Trust have developed the new service to help local people wanting to start their own business.

The team are now sitting down with visitors on a one-to-one basis and helping them develop their own business idea.

John Ball, director of Blackburn & District Enterprise Trust, believes there are many people in East Lancashire with skills from previous jobs who are ideal candidates for setting up their own business.

He said: "In the past, we would deal with mainly the unemployed. Now there is an increase in the number of people who are unemployed but are not getting job satisfaction out of it.

"We sit down with them and ask them what they are good at. Then we look at those skills and what they could be used in."

Starting with a clean sheet of paper, would-be entrepreneurs are encouraged to look at their skills and experiences first and then look for a business idea that will use those skills.

With a business idea identified, the adviser helps the client list the business questions that need answers.

At the next meeting, the client is helped to get his or her ideas down on paper, to set the sales targets and to lay down the costs that will be faced in running the new business.

This plan will be then be used as the tool to raise any additional money needed to start the business.

The advisers also constantly monitor the sources of business finance available, including the Prince's Trust, Blackburn's Get Set Scheme, East Lancashire Money Line and many specialist loans, including 'Prime' for the over 50s

Age is not a barrier to entrepreneurial success either.

Mr Ball said: "We get people from literally 16 years to those who have been forced to take early retirement but they don't want to sit at home all the time, they want to start their own business."

The service, which is free and confidential, is paid for by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and Business Link.

Appointments are available now from Monday to Friday at the Trust's offices, close to the beehive roundabout in Haslingden Road.

Contact the Trust on 01254 844144 or 01254 583862.