Alex Ward - Invasion Media

A trip to the Job Centre after being made redundant earlier this year turned out to be the best thing that 27 year old Web Design Graduate Alex Ward ever did; he joined the Leeds, York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce and only months later has a thriving website business “Invasion Media”.

With a degree in Web Design Alex had always wanted to start his own business and had tried it before with little success.  “I thought working for other people was the way forward so when I lost my job it was a real low point,” he said.  “I went to the Job Centre to sign on, and they suggested I investigate the possibility of joining the Enterprise Rehearsal Scheme.  Three months later I started Invasion Media, and after eight months I’m delighted to say everything is going superbly. I haven’t looked back since. ”

Enterprise Rehearsal is a programme that assists Leeds residents to think in a more entrepreneurial way and to see self-employment as a possible route out of welfare dependency. Most importantly, it gives these residents the opportunity to try out a business idea in a secure environment without losing their benefits.  It is funded by Sharing the Success, the Leeds Local Enterprise Growth Initiative, and managed by Leeds Chamber of Commerce.

He added: “My business is incorporates absolutely everything a start-up needs.  I don’t just design their website; I provide hosting, emails, technical support, corporate identity design and training.”
 
Based in the Clarence Dock area of Leeds, Alex called the Chamber of Commerce Enterprise Rehearsal Scheme “invaluable”, and also said “I simply could not have done this without them.”  He also offer subscription so that small businesses can pay monthly rather than up front.

Katherine Mills, who manages Enterprise Rehearsal for Leeds Chamber, said: “The programme targets unemployed individuals who are not eligible for New Deal but are reluctant to lose their benefits, especially when they are unsure about an idea or not fully confident that their idea will be a success.
Alex can be contacted through his website www.invasionmedia.co.uk 
For more information on enterprise rehearsal contact katherine.mills@leedschamber.co.uk