 Three entrepreneurs have launched their own businesses this month with support from Torfaen council.
The Handy Man, Celebrate with Wendy, and Once Upon a Dress were all supported by a project designed to help residents in Communities First areas to develop their business ideas.
Further support was provided by Torfaen Effect, a panel of volunteers drawn from the local businesses community, voluntary organisations and the public sector, who provide free confidential business expertise and advice.
Jason Winmill, 44, from Fairwater in Cwmbran, was a full time dad for 10 years and found it difficult to get back into work. Formerly a painter and decorator, he decided to strike out on his own as The Handy Man, providing a handyman service to local residents, but although he had the skills he lacked the funding and knowledge to get his business idea off the ground.
He said: “I was struggling financially as a single parent and contacted the council for support. As well as helping me with my business plan they supplied all my leaflets and business cards, and have helped me access a loan from the Torfaen Credit Union that will allow me to buy equipment and do some additional training to further my skills.”
Wendy Williams, 59, also of Fairwater, recently retired from a career in the care sector and was encouraged to set up Celebrate with Wendy by her husband. She creates celebratory bouquets and flower displays for special occasions.
She said: “I was making wreaths and flower arrangements and selling them locally via word of mouth. The support I have received has allowed me to reach a wider audience, and I am now planning to trial a stall in Pontypool Indoor Market.”
Richard Murphy from Communities First Torfaen said: “Communities First areas are recognised as some of the deprived communities in the country, with high levels of unemployment. There are many people in these communities who have a huge range of valuable skills and expertise, but don’t have the know how to get out there and start their own business, and we aim to support these people.
“With the additional support from the local business community through Torfaen Effect we can offer them a full package of business support, and I would urge anyone who has an idea for a business to get in touch for an informal discussion to see how we may be able to help.”
Torfaen Effect is sponsored by Welsh Government, Torfaen council and Communities First.
For information contact Richard Murphy on 01495 742894 or richard.murphy@torfaen.gov.uk
Mae tri entrepreneur wedi
lansio eu busnesau eu hunain y mis hwn gyda chefnogaeth gan gyngor Torfaen.
Cafodd 'The Man Handy',
'Celebrate with Wendy' a 'Once Upon a Dress' gefnogaeth gan brosiect sydd â'r
bwriad o helpu trigolion yn ardaloedd Cymunedau yn Gyntaf i ddatblygu eu
syniadau busnes.
Cafwyd cymorth pellach gan
Torfaen Effect, sef panel o wirfoddolwyr o'r gymuned busnes lleol, sefydliadau
gwirfoddol a'r sector cyhoeddus, sy'n darparu arbenigedd a
chyngor cyfrinachol am ddim i fusnesau.
Roedd Jason Winmill, 44, o Faes y Rhiw yng Nghwmbrân, yn dad llawn amser am 10
mlynedd a chafodd yn anodd dychwelyd i fyd gwaith. Gynt yn beintiwr ac
addurnwr, penderfynodd fentro ar ei ben ei hun fel 'The Handy Man', gan
ddarparu gwasanaeth tasgmon i drigolion lleol, ond er bod ganddo'r sgiliau, nid
oedd ganddo'r cyllid a'r wybodaeth i ddatblygu ei syniad am fusnes.
Dywedodd:
"Roeddwn yn ei chael yn anodd yn ariannol fel rhiant sengl a chysylltais â'r
cyngor am gymorth. Yn ogystal â fy helpu gyda fy nghynllun busnes fe wnaethant
gyflenwi fy holl daflenni a chardiau busnes, a mynd ati i fy helpu i gael
mynediad i fenthyciad gan Undeb Credyd Torfaen fydd yn caniatáu i mi i brynu
offer a gwneud rhywfaint o hyfforddiant ychwanegol i ddatblygu fy sgiliau.
"
Mae Wendy Williams, 59, hefyd o Faes y Rhiw, wedi ymddeol yn ddiweddar o yrfa
yn y sector gofal ac anogwyd hithau gan ei gŵr i sefydlu Celebrate with Wendy.
Mae hi'n creu tuswau dathlu a threfniadau blodau ar gyfer achlysuron arbennig.
Meddai:
"Roeddwn yn gwneud torchau a threfniadau blodau ac yn eu gwerthu yn lleol
drwy air ar lafar. Mae'r gefnogaeth a gefais wedi fy ngalluogi i gyrraedd
cynulleidfa ehangach, ac yr wyf yn awr yn bwriadu treialu stondin ym Marchnad
Dan Do Pont-y-pŵl."
Dywedodd Richard Murphy o Gymunedau yn Gyntaf Torfaen: "Mae ardaloedd
Cymunedau yn Gyntaf yn cael eu cydnabod fel rhai o'r cymunedau mwyaf
difreintiedig yn y wlad, gyda lefelau uchel o ddiweithdra. Mae llawer o bobl yn
y cymunedau hyn yn meddu ar ystod eang o sgiliau ac arbenigedd gwerthfawr, ond
nid oes ganddynt y wybodaeth ynglŷn â sut i fynd allan a dechrau eu busnes eu
hunain. Ein nod yw cefnogi'r bobl hyn.
"Gyda
chefnogaeth ychwanegol gan y gymuned fusnes leol drwy Torfaen Effect gallwn
gynnig pecyn llawn o gymorth busnes iddynt, a byddwn yn annog unrhyw un sydd â
syniad am fusnes i gysylltu am sgwrs anffurfiol i weld sut y gallwn fod o
gymorth."
Noddir Torfaen Effect gan
Lywodraeth Cymru, cyngor Torfaen a Chymunedau yn Gyntaf.
I gael gwybodaeth, cysylltwch â Richard Murphy ar 01495
742894 neu richard.murphy@torfaen.gov.uk
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