Case studies - business support
Company: A Gruta
Entrepreneur: Carlos Dias Furtado
Having spent eight years in the food and hospitality industry, Stockwell resident Carlos Dias Furtado took the plunge and decided it was time to utilise the skills and knowledge he had and apply them to his own business right in the heart of his very own community.
After realising his dream Carlos recognised that, despite a great track record in producing and serving quality Portuguese cuisine, however knowledgeable you are about the job you do, the skills of running a business are very different to just doing the job! That’s why in March 2007 Carlos approached GLE oneLondon having been recommended to their services by several other Portuguese entrepreneurs based in Stockwell.
Following an initial meeting with GLE oneLondon’s Portuguese language business adviser in which the strategies that should be applied to the business were discussed, further workshops and specialist one-to-one advice was arranged on a regular basis including marketing, book-keeping to general finance advice.
Carlos: “Being able to speak on a one-to-one basis with a fellow Portuguese speaker and specialist business adviser helped to break down the barriers to starting up a business that many of the entrepreneurs in the Stockwell Portuguese community face. Having met my GLE oneLondon business adviser we discussed the many challenges that face new businesses, especially within Stockwell. From this expert advice and support I learnt how to effectively market and arrange my finances – starting with opening up a business bank account!”
A Gruta, situated on Clapham Road, is now open for business and is going from strength to strength. With each passing month, more and more people are sampling the fare provided! Carlos is still receiving regular support from GLE oneLondon and is now moving towards accessing the GLE oneLondon loan fund; offering up to £7,500 for start up businesses, and £20,000 for larger growing businesses.
Carlos: “Without the continuing and ongoing support from GLE oneLondon and my business adviser, A Gruta may well not have been as successful as it is. Having my very own business adviser is fantastic as support is only a phone call away and the workshops have helped me to understand how businesses work in reality– all too easily you can think you’ve got a great idea and get wrapped up in it, and forget that each month your books have to balance and that you need to go out there and spread the word! Having a high quality business support agency like GLE oneLondon in the local community is extremely important, especially in areas like Stockwell where many residents simply don’t believe that such support – and FREE support – is available!”
For more information about how GLE oneLondon can help your business please click here