Free business school encourages Newcastle’s start-ups to rebel against hard times

Newcastle’s entrepreneurs of the future are being offered places on a free, acclaimed online workshop which can help them to launch, even before they have finished the course

The hugely popular Rebel Business School is coming to Newcastle from March 22-26 with a message of hope during tough times for the region.

The live, online course is aimed at everyone, from those with no cash or business experience to fledgling start-ups that need guidance to keep on track.

Rebel’s events are led by successful entrepreneurs and professionals and include advice from those who have overcome the ups and downs of business life but then gone on to succeed.

Until last year, Rebel was known as the PopUp Business School and ‘popped up’ at different venues in towns and cities across the country, teaching the masses how to start a business. Its events regularly attracted over 100 attendees, with over a quarter of attendees starting a new business and gaining their first sale within five days. However, the pandemic forced a major rethink.

CEO Simon Paine and his team changed the business model and moved the company’s services online. As the company could no longer ‘pop-up’, they dropped the name the ‘PopUp Business School’ and rebranded as Rebel.

“We can’t pop-up in person any more, but we haven’t gone away. We’ve had some great times in Newcastle, but know the region has experienced a rough year, so we want to help you bounce back,” he said.

Paine emphasised that it is both possible and desirable to start a business, even in the wake of a pandemic, and says the legacy of Covid-19 should not stop anyone from doing so.

“Things can get better if people focus on the next chapter of their lives, put themselves in control and do something they love.

“We encourage people to rebel against the idea that 2021 is going to be bad because of what’s happened up until now. It could be a great year if they want it to be. Everything has changed, the world has been shaken up and people who get moving can take advantage of the new situation,” he says.

The Newcastle Rebel Business School is available free of charge to participants, through sponsorship and funding from Newcastle City Council and the European Structural and Investment Funds.

Whilst the event is being marketed to those living in Newcastle, anyone is welcome to attend. You can book a free place via the Rebel Business School website.