Name: Think Big: Start Small presented by Eric McBean
Start: 2026-02-23T09:45:00+00:00
End: 2026-02-23T12:00:00+00:00
Location: Ashton Library and Information Service

Think Big: Start Small presented by Eric McBean

This workshop is designed to help develop your big idea by starting small and how to give your business a better chance of survival.
About this Event

The "Think Big, Start Small" workshop is presented by Eric McBean, founder of the award-winning startup, Squosh Compacting Company.

This workshop is designed to help develop your big idea by starting small. Eric will show you how to maximise your current resources, minimise the growing pains and give your business a better chance of survival. Definitely no get rich quick tips, just practical advice based on decades of experience as an entrepreneur and advisor.

Eric started his first business at 17, a mini-bus service for teenagers providing day trips to the seaside that returned home after the clubs and bars had closed. He has started many more since! Eric has also spent over a decade volunteering as a Business Mentor for The Prince's Trust with one of his mentees winning the Pride of Britain award. Eric is a true social entrepreneur with nearly 20 years’ experience supporting others to develop their ideas and start-up in business. As the Lead for Enterprise & Innovation, Eric helped to start and support over 300 businesses and social enterprises across the Northwest of England with one going on to be awarded the Kings Award for Voluntary Service ( Women With Wings). Eric ensured start-ups had access to funding, support and premises.

Eric is a qualified Business Advisor, an accomplished Business Mentor and an accredited Business Coach.

Squosh Compacting Company is the UK's first mobile compacting service dedicated to communal bins. It is a simple yet powerful idea: to revolutionise waste management by maximising bin capacity.

SQUOSH.IT/www.squosh.it

"With a keen interest in sustainability, I saw an opportunity to make a real difference."

To join this workshop, you or your business needs to have a postcode within the following GM authorities: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Manchester, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford or Wigan. You also need to be: The owner of a business OR an aspiring entrepreneur with a business idea you want to develop.

All attendees must complete this to be able to join the workshop, unless you have already registered with Build a Business at a previous workshop. Please complete after booking your place.

For more information about the project go to:www.buildabusinessgm.org