NEW business is the lifeblood of the economy and Test Valley Borough Council is supporting a series of start-up seminars and advice sessions for entrepreneurs thinking of going it alone.

It is not unusual these days to start your own business. The Institute of Directors reports that 95 per cent of businesses are categorised as small, with less than 20 employees.

So the seminars, run by South Hampshire Enterprise Agency (SHEA), touch on the usual aspects of starting a business whether becoming self-employed or operating as a limited company.

The initial sessions are designed to raise awareness of the personal skills needed to successfully launch and run a business, link to support groups, support and assist with action plans.

At a Business Start-up seminar in Romsey, 12 budding entrepreneurs were considering a range of options from theatre production to a website marketing children's musical instruments.

One of the delegates was Rosa Morato, who is considering opening a shop selling maternity clothes, said: "It made me realise that it is fine to have the idea but requires hard work and research to put it into practice," she said.

"This is especially important if you are borrowing and investing money in a business."

David Gleave, Test Valley's economic development officer, said: "Supporting new business is key to the council's policy - and we achieve it through incentive grants, support for enterprise agencies, business incubation units and direct provision of 'easy in, easy out' office accommodation."

Want to know more? Contact David Gleave on 01264 368309 or Tim Austin, of SHEA, on 023 8078 8088.