Ernest Wilsons third Seminar. Raising finance and Sub Post Office application support.

Ernest Wilsons held its third seminar on the 28th November titled “Thinking about buying your own business? – Learn How”, which was another huge success with the room bulging with delegates. The agenda included an item on “Acquiring Finance for your business purchase” which I covered along with Wendy Hallas, Relationship Manager from Lloyds TSB’s Commercial Business Centre in Huddersfield. I think it opened a number of the delegates eyes as to what is possible and what is not in the current market place when it comes to raising finance to buy a business, with a few readjusting their purchase price parameters. Banks are lending money but they have to be approached with the right proposition, the right information and in the right way. This is what keeps me busy at Ernest Wilsons helping people day in and day out, without charge, to source finance to buy the business they have decided is for them – and I love it!


I have also been busy this week helping a number of individuals apply for the position of subpostmaster having agreed to buy a Sub Post Office from a client of Ernest Wilsons or indeed another Business Transfer Agent. The Sub Post Office application process involves the completion of a Post Office bespoke Business Plan amongst other things and also includes a subsequent interview with the Post Office wherein the applicant undertakes a powerpoint presentation. Having helped more people than I can care to remember through this process I am pleased to continue to be able to help many more as many finding it daunting, even though they clearly have all the skills to run a small business including a Sub Post Office. Indeed Ernest Wilsons “Buying a Sub Post Office Support Service” launched last year has really taken off with calls coming in from all over the country! It is always a regular highlight in the week when a delighted customer telephones me to say they have been appointed subpostmaster or subpostmistress – and this week I had two of these happy calls!