Aylesbury Vale's entrepreneurs sought for free online business workshop

Aylesbury Vale's entrepreneurs of the future are being offered places on a free, acclaimed online workshop which aims to get them up and running, as the UK emerges from lockdown.
Simon Paine, CEO of the PopUp Business SchoolSimon Paine, CEO of the PopUp Business School
Simon Paine, CEO of the PopUp Business School

The PopUp Business School is coming to Buckinghamshire from March 8-19 with a message of hope during tough times for the region.

The live, online course is aimed at everyone, from those with no cash or business experience to fledgling start-ups that need guidance to keep on track.

PopUp’s events are led by successful entrepreneurs and professionals and include advice from those who have overcome the ups and downs of business life, then gone on to succeed.

Previously its live events held in The Works and The Front Room venues in High Wycombe have been packed and lively affairs.

Many attendees have made sales, launch websites and created new businesses during the events.

Simon Paine, PopUp Business School co-founder and CEO, says he wants to help High Wycombe and Buckinghamshire bounce back after a wretched year of restrictions and crises.

“We know High Wycombe and Buckinghamshire has been hit hard over the past year with businesses closed and people being ill, or worse.

“But we believe things will get better and want to help people focus on the next chapter of their lives, where they are in control and doing something they love. The country is slowly emerging from lockdown, and it’s going to be a very different world.”

Paine says that it is both possible and desirable to start a business, even in the wake of a pandemic, and says the legacy of Covid-19 should not stop anyone from doing so.

“Now’s actually the best time to be starting up. Everything has changed, the world has been shaken up and people who get moving can take advantage of the new order," he says.

PopUp’s own business model was turned upside down last year as restrictions meant it could no longer provide in-person events.

“We had to move everything online after our entire business model was turned upside down by Covid-19. So we changed the way we work and have moved to online or hybrid events.

“There are advantages with online events, the main one being that there’s no limit to the number of people who can attend. In some ways, the online events are also more accessible, because you don’t have to travel to us.

“Working online means people are actually better placed to start taking steps forward. For instance, we show people how to launch websites for free. Now, people are doing that during the course and sending us the links - it’s really inspiring.”

The High Wycombe PopUp Business School is available free of charge to participants, through sponsorship and funding from Red Kite Community Housing.

While the event is being marketed to those living in High Wycombe and Buckinghamshire anyone is welcome to attend.

You can book a free place via the PopUp Business School website: