​​​​​​​Brilliant business training for entrepreneurs

Slough residents can benefit from amazing free courses to help make their business dreams come true.

Slough Borough Council and The Rebel School are joining forces to cultivate a new wave of entrepreneurs in the area.

Recognising the need for support in skills development and starting businesses, the council has used UK Government funding to launch initiatives, including the Rebel Business School course.

The free two-week course runs from 2-13 October at The Curve, Slough. The in-person course, which offers opportunity for business ownership, flexibility, and growth, is open to all.

Topics include how to start a business for free, sales, marketing, pricing and negotiation, tax and accounting, building a website for free, search engine optimisation, social media, pitching and mindset.

Start-up success isn't guaranteed and seeking expert advice and guidance has become crucial. Enter Rebel Business School, a game-changing course catered to early-stage start-ups. With a unique and practical approach, the free course is a popular choice for those new to the business world.

Anila Ridan, owner of an award-winning beauty salon in Earls Lane, Cippenham, attests to the transformative impact of Rebel Business School. Anila said: "Doing the Rebel course helped me to become so much more comfortable growing my business, there is a great network and support. Everyone gave me really good advice to solve some of the challenges I was facing. The support they gave me was so good I've still got the screenshots of it up to this day."

Anila's journey began with a determination to infuse ethics and exceptional service into the beauty industry. The Rebel course reinforced her belief in resilience and taking bold steps.

Overcoming personal obstacles, including her husband's heart failure and the pandemic, Anila established a salon offering diverse beauty treatments. Her plans involve hiring therapists, sharing techniques, and building an e-commerce store.

Councillor Dexter Smith, leader of the council, said: "We want to make sure our residents have the best possible options available to them to be able to develop their skills and start their own business. The Rebel Business School courses are a great way for us to do this." 

The UK is witnessing a surge in entrepreneurial spirit, evident in a remarkable rise in new businesses. In 2021, there were 31,000 more new businesses compared to the previous year.

This trend reflects a growing desire among individuals to overcome living cost challenges and unsatisfying work environments. Many are opting to establish home-based businesses, whether full or part-time, to take charge of their futures and supplement their incomes.

The Rebel School CEO, Henry Nicholson, said: "It's never been more important to arm communities with the ability to build businesses, make their own money and create opportunity. We teach people how to start without getting into debt and without writing a complex business plan. This is a huge barrier for many people, and we can't wait to show the residents of Slough how they can create a business around something they love without getting tied up in red tape."

To book a free place, or for more information, visit the Rebel School website.

Notes to editors: 

About The Rebel School

The Rebel School was founded in 2010 by Alan Donegan and Simon Paine. It’s flagship course Rebel Business School helps people from all walks of life to start their own businesses. The course has educated over 19,000 people in seven different countries through free events and helped launch 805 businesses in 2020 alone.  

In 2021, the company won a Queen’s Award in the Promoting Opportunity category and its work has been backed by organisations including Google, Henley Business School and the Department for Work and Pensions. The Rebel Business School is the best business advice that money can't buy - all of its events are free. 

Contact: Kimberley Taylor, Marketing Manager. The Rebel School kimberley@therebelschool.com 07879 118776. 

Multiply - Skills for Life

Slough Borough Council has been awarded a grant which is part of a wider Government skills initiative. Multiply is a multi-million pound national Government investment that forms part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The funding is aimed at adults (19+) who have not already achieved a formal level 2 in maths (GCSE grade 4/C or equivalent.)

The emphasis of the funding is on changing attitudes towards maths using a variety of learning opportunities that will develop confidence in maths, improve life skills, develop employment progression, create opportunities and help parents and carers to support their children’s learning.

Published: 4 September 2023