Inclusive Enterprise Programme rolls out across Warwickshire
A programme offering tailored support to people new to running their own business, or thinking of starting one up, has been expanded throughout Warwickshire.
After more than 18 months of delivery to targeted deprived areas of Nuneaton & Bedworth, the Inclusive Enterprise Programme (IEP) is being extended to other parts of the county, starting in Leamington, Warwick, Rugby and North Warwickshire.
The IEP's main messages are that enterprise can be for all and that business ownership is a realistic aspiration.
Their Business Dream offer to clients who have not started their own business, or have been trading for less than 12 months, consists of an intensive and specifically-tailored package of support. It is designed to meet the needs of clients from a range of backgrounds, personal situations and circumstances.
And now people throughout Warwickshire can gain access to that support as the IEP strives to make its services visible and accessible to everyone - including those people who might not even realise that have the skills and potential to succeed as an SME.
"We know there are talented people out there who have not traditionally accessed business support services or, indeed even considered enterprise as an economic option,” said Sheridan Sulskis, IEP Project Manager. “We believe that by extending our workshops and support to include other areas of deprivation in Warwickshire, we can significantly improve our engagement with clients.
“Through our intervention we will level the playing field by finding these clients, who would not otherwise engage with business support organisations, upskilling them to the same level as those with whom mainstream would normally engage.
"The uniqueness of The Business Dream is that it opens up the opportunity for a whole new group of people to consider the possibility of starting a business through personalised group workshops and peer-to-peer networking groups."
Meanwhile, alongside the expansion of pre-start support in Warwickshire, the IEP will also soon launch the first Creative Springboard programme - designed to get pre-start and newly-started creative businesses based in Warwickshire to think more like a business, utilising digital platforms.
“We are searching for entrepreneurs looking at ways to turn their hobby into a real money-making business or wanting to grow their existing business through the support of specifically tailored workshops, peer-to-peer support and advice from industry experts,” said Sheridan. “The programme consists of six days – two days a week over three weeks – run in November and will cover a range of topics to help develop the building blocks of your business and how to think more digitally.”
The ERDF-funded IEP, managed by Warwickshire County Council, has been serving the most deprived areas of Nuneaton and Bedworth, striving to provide their residents with easy and fair access to support that could change their lives through the pre-start up support programme The Business Dream.
The other project under the umbrella, Creative Warwickshire, helped over 30 businesses from the digital and creative sectors explore new markets and reach their next level of growth.
For more information about The Business Dream or Creative Springboard, please check out www.inclusive-enterprise.co.uk or give us a call on 07494 442 869.