A entrepreneur has quit his job in a local council to step up a Preston social care service.

Matt Hughes has opened One Stop Social Limited to be an online hub for social care services and professionals.

Backed with funding by Boost, the Lancashire Business Growth Hub, he is aiming to create 10 jobs during the next three years.

Matt took the risk to leave his permanent management job to set up the company.

He’s spent ten months researching the project before launching his website.

Part of the help he’s received from Boost are a number of masterclasses.

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He told Business Lancashire: “The Boost masterclasses gave me, somebody with limited business experience and exposure, the opportunity to expand my knowledge base, understanding and skills in setting up, expanding and developing One Stop Social. It also gave me the confidence to give it a go.

“Following this support, I was successful in obtaining a government-backed business loan of £20,000. This has allowed me to really kick on with my business developments.

“In the next three years, I aim to create 10 jobs, my first employee joined in January and this will increase to meet demand for our services over time. The response to the business so far has been great, our rebranded and redeveloped website will launch in March and will be more interactive for users. A lot has happened in a short space of time, but it’s both exciting and rewarding.”

He received help from Winning Pitch who give tips on pitching your businesses to win funding.

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Head of entrepreneurial solutions at Winning Pitch Rona McFall said: “It’s great to hear that Matt has taken on his first staff member just a few months after going live and that our help was the springboard for him to access finance. The business has been launched following a lot of in-depth research and we were pleased to be able to support Matt on the next steps to make sure there is a successful future ahead for One Stop Social Ltd.”

I want to set up a business and need some help…

You can visit the Boost website and apply for support and funding to get your business idea off the ground in Preston