A new enterprise support initiative starts in June to help people in Swansea to take their business to the next level in the medium of Welsh.
Clwb Cychwyn (Startup Club) will be held at Menter Iaith Abertawe every Wednesday for four weeks and cover fundamental business topics including idea generation, writing a business plan, marketing and social media, legals and finance, and pitching.
The course is aimed at budding entrepreneurs with a business idea or a venture already in its early stages who are more comfortable communicating in Welsh or who are confident learners and want the chance to converse in the language and hone their ability.
It’s hoped that Clwb Cychwyn will nurture the development of a stronger Welsh speaking business community in Swansea and beyond, with natural networking opportunities between the cohort and encouragement of Welsh language communication within business and life more generally.
The programme is being delivered as part of the Cowork Local project which launched in Swansea, Denbighshire and the Vale of Glamorgan in May. Run by business support and coworking experts Town Square Spaces (TownSq), its aim is to help professionals, freelancers and small businesses to escape their daily commute or makeshift home office and work close to home in a community-oriented workspace.
Part of Cowork Local’s mission is to champion and empower entrepreneurship in the areas it’s working within by offering fully-funded business support for companies at all levels, with Clwb Cychwyn targeting those in their earliest stages and helping people turn initial ideas into viable ventures.
Community Manager Rhianydd Herdman said that the programme will make a big difference for Welsh speakers: “We’re so proud that Cowork Local’s first startup support course is dedicated to Welsh language businesses. It’s only right that Welsh speakers should be able to network and learn the fundamentals in our national language, and I’m sure for many it will make the process of starting up much easier to understand and less daunting.
“It’s easy to forget that many of us in Wales have been taught in the language from a young age having gone to Welsh speaking schools, so it can be really difficult to switch over and learn in English as adults – particularly when talking about topics that might not generally come up in everyday Welsh.
“I’m confident that the incoming Clwb Cychwyn cohort will really benefit from gaining expert insights into enterprise in Welsh and hopefully it will signal the start of a much more collaborative and close-knit community of Welsh speaking entrepreneurs in the area.
“If you’re a Welsh speaker in the Swansea area with a business idea, startup, or even just a hobby you might want to pursue further, get in touch with us to find out a bit more about how Clwb Cychwyn can take you to the next level!”
Cowork Local is funded by the UK Government through the UK Community Renewal Fund.
Clwb Cychwyn is taking place weekly at Menter Iaith Abertawe from 8th June to 29th June at 6-8pm.
To find out more or to express interest in participating, visit coworklocal.co.uk/register/startup-club-registration or contact Rhianydd at rhianydd@thetownsquare.co.uk.
