THE newly set up business service is appealing for some new 'Angels' to help women entrepreneurs in West Devon to start and run their business successfully.

Devonshire Business Angels founder Peter de Snoo says the aim is to give strength to women entrepreneurs who need a voice in the typical man's world of business entrepreneurs. The service is non-profit and free of charge. In July Mr de Snoo set up the Cornish Business Angels in Truro which has already 42 mentees being mentored by our team of 22 mentors — he believes it is the first type of business mentoring, in Cornwall, offering a dedicated mentoring service only to women entrepreneurs.

To date, advice has been given to 85 would be entrepreneurs of whom 59% have successfully started their business.

Mr de Snoo said: 'There is no better time to start your own business and with the rising number of redundancies now is the time to re-assess what you want to do with your life and perhaps be your own boss. Regular one-to-one mentoring will be offered by way of a dedicated mentor, the Angel, assigned to each member with meetings at the member's place of work or a convenient location together with email back-up communication as required. There are no restrictions on the type of businesses or on the status of the members, who can be in employment, on benefits or may just want to start a new career.'

The DBA will be a business club where the members can communicate with each other to exchange ideas or problems and inter-trade their services or products.

A forum will be set up and meetings arranged for group discussions between the members. Assistance in all aspects of running a business will be available from the embryonic idea stage through marketing, financial controls, personnel management, sales, production, exporting etc.

n Anyone interested in joining the Devonshire Business Angels either as a mentor or as one needing business advice call Peter de Snoo on 01872 862832 or email [email protected]">[email protected]