'Start your own business'

THE time to start up your own business has never been better, thefounder of the UK's biggest website has claimed.

Speaking at an event at Staples in Tunbridge Wells entitled StartA Business In Your Spare Time, Emma Jones, the creator of EnterpriseNation, encouraged the audience to make the step.

The businesswoman - who is also the author of books Spare RoomStart-up, Working 5 To 9 and Go Global - said: "Many people start asecond business from home out of fear of redundancy and othersbecause they need an outlet for their energy and creative talent.But whatever their skill is, it can be turned into business."

Mrs Jones also urged the audience not to be put off by cost. "Youcan set up a business for Pounds 50", she said.

She went on to say: "There has never been a better time toconsider running your own business and it's getting easier andeasier all the time with the internet and the endless possibilitiesthat it provides. The key thing is having a niche idea that you arepassionate about, or spotting a gap in the market or just seeingsomething that you think you could do better and translating thatinto a viable business. Writing a good business plan is vital, butit should be no more than four pages long, not 40.

"Our research suggests that, by the end of 2011, more than 11million people in the UK will be making some form of income fromhome - which is incredible."

Other presenters included Tunbridge Wells-based Steve Emecz, whohas a full time job with a software firm in London, but who alsoruns MX Publishing in his spare time, and Claire Melvin who runsClaire's Handmade Cakes alongside here main job with the Women'sInstitute. Both feature in Emma Jones Book 5 to 9. Members of theaudience were invited to submit new business ideas expressed in 150words for entry into a competition to win Pounds 1,000 of Staples'vouchers. The Courier is to act as one of the judges and the winnerwill be notified and announced within two weeks of the competitionclosing.