Free business courses will be offered to resettled Ukrainians across Wiltshire.

Three different courses will take place this year to help those interested in creating their own business but who aren't sure where to start.

The first session will be held at the Workshed in Swindon January 10-12, then at the Old Fire Station in Salisbury February 20-22, and at Trowbridge Town Hall March 8-12.

Each course runs for three days from 10am to 2pm and free spaces are first come first serve.

Attendees should arrive by 9.30am to meet the advisors who will lead the course.

Sofiia Volovyk, chair of Swindon Welcomes Ukraine, will deliver the courses in Ukrainian.

She set up her own successful workshop previously to "bring everyone together" and 16 people attended, but she didn't have to resources to continue.

These new sessions will be supported by the government through the European Regional Development Fund.

Sofiia said: "When I came to the UK I quickly became aware that lots of Ukrainians had businesses back home and either wanted to or weren’t aware that they could set up one here in the UK.

"So many smart and entrepreneurial-minded people have and will resettle here in Wiltshire, what a waste to the community it would be if we can’t support them."

See more: Issues Wiltshire councillors will have to tackle in 2023

The courses are organised by The Foundry which supports people to start, launch and grow their own businesses. 

All support run by The Foundry is free and it works alongside partners from the Swindon and Wiltshire LEP, Swindon Borough Council, and Wiltshire Council.

Business advisor Duncan Robinson said: "If you’re looking to set up or continue a business here in the UK you will need help to understand the local market, and fairly quickly.

"Our buying habits and how we communicate can be considerably different to communities in Ukraine, let alone the HMRC rules and regulations.

"It made perfect sense for us to work with Sofiia to scale this programme.

The courses come after it was revealed that four Ukrainian refugee families in Wiltshire had been made homeless, with 17 more at risk.

See more: Ukrainian families now homeless in Wiltshire

Some of what Sofiia will teach includes sales, marketing, social media, branding, and business culture in the United Kingdom.

There are 15 spaces on each course and anyone interested can book online via Eventbrite or by emailing info@thefoundryswindon.org.