Local entrepreneurs aspiring to new heights

A fifth round of entrepreneurs has taken the first steps to develop their businesses with the help of Renfrewshire Council.

InCube is an innovative business support programme, developed by Invest in Renfrewshire, where local creative start-ups can benefit from support to improve their growth.

Based on Paisley High Street, Incube provides talented creatives with the means and confidence to showcase their products, as well as providing them with the support and guidance to take their business further.

The entrepreneurs benefit from a package of support for up to nine months including free office and meeting space in Paisley town centre and one-to-one mentoring and coaching. They also gain access to funding opportunities, a range of workshops and high profile networking events.

Also present at InCube are Business Gateway and Prince’s Trust Scotland – meaning creatives can access business start-up support in a supportive environment.

Designer Sarah Johnstone, of FlipFlop Design Shop felt the InCube programme was a great opportunity to take on board valuable knowledge from experts and apply it to her own business, creating personalised flip flops.

Sarah added “It’s perfect for networking and learning alongside other creative, inspirational and like-minded people who have the same goal.”

As part of the programme, the businesses have the opportunity to have their products available for sale within the dedicated InCube shop, 9B Gilmour Street Paisley. During this time they are responsible for ensuring they can fulfil customer orders made within the shop to a high standard.

Designer Caitlin Mooney of Woolybox, a crochet subscription box service, applied to InCube as she was struggling to understand the legal matters of running your own business and, after losing her job, was keen to start focusing on something creative.

“I’m excited to see what my business holds for me in the future and hope that one day I can be my own full time boss.”

Other businesses supported in this round are children’s clothing brand Atelier Eva Art, textiles and homewares brands Obsidian Ore and Church & Jones, milliner Roberta Simpson, art inspired fashion designer Soheila Kenyani and Handmade Moments who specialise in teddy bears, jewellery and cards.

Renfrewshire Council Leader Iain Nicolson said: “InCube has been a tremendous success with local creatives being supported and nurtured to showcase their products and advance their business to the next level.

“It is important that we continue to support this innovative community who are producing exceptional products and who will help establish Paisley as a place where creativity thrives.”

As part of the programme, the businesses are asked to act as an advocate for InCube and often take an active role in promoting and selling their own products through taking stalls at Renfrewshire Council events and holding workshops.

For further information on Incube and to find out how to get involved, visit www.incube.ren