THE country's first walk-in business start-up shop is due to open next week.

The Opportunity Shop, run by start-up advisers InBiz, aims to help people plan, market and run their own business, and is in Cavendish Square in Park South. It's thought to be the first of its kind in Britain.

Swindon's InBiz manager Brendan Gleeson said: "All the expertise is free and nothing in the shop will have a price tag.

"The shop will spearhead the way deprived and underprivileged communities can directly benefit from business start up and self employment in addition to special needs and disability employment advice."

The shop will house several specialists who will be able to give different types of business advice.

Among the groups involved are Westcountry Training and Consultancy Service which helps disabled and disadvantaged people find employment or education and training the Prince's Trust and JobCentre Plus.

Social enterprise organisation Co-operative Futures and The Neighbourhood Renewal Scheme are also involved, as is Prime, the version of The Prince's Trust for older people.

BT has also helped out, providing broadband for the shop and supplying online training programmes.

There are three more Opportunity Shops planned for Swindon in the next year, including one in Penhill, and more across the country in the future.

InBiz was founded in 1990 and has a three-stage plan of getting an idea of the ground in as little as 60 days, and the entrepreneurs can continue to claim benefits for up to six months because of an agreement between InBiz and JobCentre Plus.

Across the country about 12,000 people have been helped to start up their own business.

Mr Gleeson said: "Nationally 85 per cent of clients who complete our programme are still trading or in work after two years. We have created a 'one stop shop' to offer a more accessible and comprehensive service."

InBiz regional manager Mike Lloyd said: "It's not just help with starting a business anyone who has a deficiency with reading or writing can come into us. We will signpost them to the appropriate agency and then they can come back and we can help them into work."

There are also plans to have toys in the shop so parents can come in for advice with their children.

The shop, at 30 Cavendish Square, Park South, will be open from 10am to 5pm from Monday to Friday. It will open for the first time on TuesdayAPR26 at 3pm.

Budding entrepreneurs can drop in to arrange an appointment, or call 01793 535366.