Falconry Business Set To Take Off
A young County Durham woman is to spread her wings as an entrepreneur after turning her falconry passion into a new business venture.
Avril Broad from Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, set up Broadwing Falconry with help and support from Be Enterprising after deciding she wanted a change in career.
Broadwing Falconry offers raptor displays to a variety of venues such as schools, shows and days out, as well as offering tuition, creating a unique experience for everyone that takes part.
Avril spent five years working as a debt counsellor for the Citizens Advice Bureau when she decided she wanted to turn her hobby into a business of her own.
Avril, 22, said: “I had been working in the same job since I was 17 and decided I needed a change.
“I started thinking of ways I could turn my hobby into a business and after doing some market research I realised that I could offer a unique business to the area.”
Be Enterprising is Durham County Council’s Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI) programme, supported by funding from government and by £4.12m additional investment from the European Regional Development Fund. It was created to inspire enterprise and bring about positive and measurable changes in the unemployment hotspots of County Durham.
The BE Enterprising team has a local community base in the SASDA office, located in Aycliffe Business Park, Newton Aycliffe.
Through the Be Enterprising programme Avril was given the support, advice and confidence she needed to get her new business off the ground, receiving feedback on her business plan, potential pitfalls to avoid and help in getting started.
Avril said: “Be Enterprising has been fantastic. I was awarded a grant that has helped me with equipment and housing for the birds and have been given excellent advice and support to create a business plan and manage cash flow. Be Enterprising has allowed me to make the jump into the unknown and it just shows anyone can do it.”
Andrew Watsford, Avril’s Be Enterprising coach, said: “Avril’s passion for what she does is clearly seen when she’s working with these birds. It just shows that you don’t have to come from a business background to start up your own business and do something you love.”
When asked about her future plans for the business, Avril said: “In a couple of years down the line, after the business is established, I would like to start breeding more birds and hopefully have tutored some keen raptor fans that I will be able to employ.”
Anyone living in County Durham who would like support making their business idea a reality may be eligible for support from Be Enterprising. For more information call 0800 030 4134 or visit www.be-enterprising.biz.
Be Enterprising’s ‘Enterprise Coaching’ project is delivered in the former borough of Sedgefield by the area’s local enterprise agency, SASDA.
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