"The survival rate for new start businesses who develop in an incubator is typically 80-90%, the general business survival rate is under 50%"
Welcome to Enterprise Connection
“Our mission is to offer professional accommodation that is affordable, with easy-in-easy-out terms to support and develop a diverse portfolio of profitable entrepreneurial companies by offering a variety of support for all types of businesses”
We are a business incubator based in West Dorset aimed at giving entrepreneurs the support they need to combat the isolation and stress often experienced when setting up in business for the first time. This is achieved by providing affordable workspaces and a shared, professional and focussed forum for development.
Above all, the Enterprise Connection promises the right help at the right time for emerging independent businesses; encouraging members to combine and draw strength from those around them, to establish a clear identity and sustainable independence, helping us achieve our goal – a sustainable and profitable Dorset.
We are a “mixed-use” project offering help and assistance to businesses from a number of different industry sectors:
- ICT, e.g. Web Based Design, Multimedia and related areas
- Tourism – in particular businesses with a Jurassic Coast theme
- Environmental Technologies
- Creative and Cultural Industries such as Advertising, Architecture, Design
- Businesses from other sectors that make use of the knowledge economy to further their business interests
Enterprise Connection is an assisted organisation that is working to pool the collective - and extensive - capabilities that already exist within the county, in other words you.
This initiative is funded by Weymouth College, DRRi, West Dorset District Council, Dorset County Council and Weymouth and Portland Borough Council and supported by Business Link Wessex.
Who Can We Help?
Essentially anyone who wants to start-up a business or move from a home office, or increase the capability and productivity of their business; from intensive structuring and development assistance for pre-start businesses to training, guidance and market appraisals for well established SMEs (Small or Medium Enterprises).
If your business fits any of the following criteria this may be just the opportunity you have been looking for:
- you have a business idea and don’t know where to begin
- you have started trading but need to expand from home into more suitable, professional accommodation
- you are running a successful business that needs to expand
- you need a person rather than a machine to answer your calls when you are out of the office, so you don’t lose business opportunities
- you need ad-hoc conference accommodation or affordable professional meeting rooms
- you need access to a free business mentor and business advice to help you develop your business to meet its full potential
How Can We Help?
From essential needs to additional training we offer a wide range of services, including;
- Fully serviced office space in Prospect House or Enterprise Connection Weymouth with rates to suit our members needs, more information can be found here.
- Free targeted support for your business from the Enterprise Connection team. We will introduce you to how the incubator works and ensure that you make the most of it by helping you to find the most important aspects of what you do and areas which need enhancement.
- Training course and seminars starting with the basic principals and working up to provide a complete course, teaching you core business skills so that you can make informed choices when investing in your business and its staff. Current details of training courses and seminar programs on offer can be found on the events page.
