Have you dreamt of transforming your hobby or passion into a successful business? If you have, and are aged 50 or over, there is a course to help you make that leap.

You can start the new year with new aspirations and sign up to the next Start-up School for Seniors course, which gets underway on 16 January 2025, and is free to people out of work or low-earners.

It is a part-time, 8-week programme which will help you break down complicated business concepts into actionable steps. The flexible course includes over 25 hours of pre-recorded videos, support from like-minded individuals during weekly networking sessions, one-to-one mentoring, and specialist workshops to enhance your business skills.

Ealing Council’s adult learning team, Learn Ealing, is a proud partner of this course where you will learn to:

• identify your ideal customer and where to find them
• understand how to price your product or service
• create a one-page business plan and know the legal requirements of running a business
• feel more confident about the steps you need to take to start or grow your business 

Amita’s story

Many participants have reaped the benefits of the course, including Amita Rallin – an innovative entrepreneur dedicated to merging fashion with sustainability. She decided to turn her passion for individual style and ethically produced clothing into a business, by creating a line of eco-friendly scarves.

She said: “My vision was to produce scarves that provide comfort and beauty while minimising environmental impact. With the help of the course, I was able to build on my vision of introducing a collection of woollen scarves, ethically produced in a family-owned factory in India.”

Her story is an inspiring example of how dedication and a unique vision can lead to entrepreneurial success at any age.

‘Turn your passion into a career’

Councillor Kamaljit Nagpal, the council’s cabinet member for decent living incomes said:

“This initiative is a brilliant way to help over 50s kick-start their business ideas. The success of previous courses from Start-up School for Seniors show that it’s never too late to turn your passion and enthusiasm for something into a career. If you have an idea in mind that you want to invest your time in, or want to improve your existing business, enrol on the next course today.”

How to enrol

The next course starts on 16 January 2025 and registration is now open. Enrol today.