IntoEnterprise is an exciting new initiative, designed to enable recently started enterprises to maximise potential and achieve fast track growth. It will provide special and comprehensive programmes of support for new small to medium enterprises in the private and community sectors which are trading within their first year.
[UKPRwire, Thu May 31 2007] The School of Business and Enterprise (SBE) at St Martin’s College is leading an exciting new project, IntoEnterprise which aims to provide expertise and support to new entrepreneurs across the North West.
IntoEnterprise is a partnership of Higher Education and Voluntary Organisations including St Martin’s College (School of Business and Enterprise), Manchester Metropolitan University (Centre for Enterprise); the University of Central Lancashire; and Voluntary Action Cumbria. The project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund and the North West Regional Development Agency.
IntoEnterprise is an exciting new initiative, designed to enable recently started enterprises to maximise potential and achieve fast track growth. It will provide special and comprehensive programmes of support for new small to medium enterprises in the private and community sectors which are trading within their first year. The project will focus on enterprises based within specific areas in Manchester, East Lancashire, Blackpool, Lancaster, Morecambe, Barrow, West Cumbria, Carlisle and Eden Valley.
IntoEnterprise will offer free access to business experts and coaching, online business skills training, peer support networks, advertising and promotional opportunities plus support. One of the key elements is the peer support network, which is intended to foster a business ‘community’ by putting businesses in contact with each other. The project aims to help 110 businesses by July 2008.
An exciting dynamic “enterprise portal” has been developed which amongst other opportunities for new enterprises will feature a virtual enterprise library, virtual notice boards, news areas, diagnostic tools and signposts to enterprise opportunities.
There are 500,000 small to medium enterprises in the North West who employ 47% of the population and account for a staggering 37% of private sector turnover. Only around one-third of new start-ups make it to their fourth year.
Janie Ash, Managing Director of The Rehab Agency in Lancaster, started her business in 2005: “One of the biggest issues is the time and work it takes to access any help. I felt completely overwhelmed and would have loved to be able to get all the help I needed in one place. To have the support of a business mentor that had Rehab’s best interests at heart would have been a godsend. The IntoEnterprise project ticks all my boxes.”
Project Manager Karl Lester explains: “IntoEnterprise will undoubtedly help new enterprises across the region by giving them access to expert advice and business networks, providing them with an entrepreneurial community so they can flourish. We want to help businesses grow and develop, not only to benefit the business itself but also the region as a whole.”
The programme is designed to be inclusive but is restricted to certain areas of the North West. Anyone can apply to register by visiting the website at www.intoenterprise.com.
ENDS: Note to Editors images available
For more information please contact:
Karl Lester MA MBA Janie Ash
Centre For Creativity and Innovation The Rehab Agency Ltd
St Martin’s College. Lancaster
e: krlester@ucsm.ac.uk e:janie@therehabagency.com
Tel: 01524 384672 Tel: 01524 590580
College Biography
St Martin’s College was founded in 1964. It currently has in excess of 11,500 students, studying on degree, foundation degree and postgraduate courses. There are three main campuses at Carlisle, Ambleside and Lancaster, as well as sites in Barrow, Whitehaven and London.
St Martin’s College is the second largest provider of teacher training in the country and one of the main providers of health care professionals in the NW.
The Sunday Times University Guide 2006 reported that St Martin’s graduates are more likely to get a graduate level job on completing their course than any other Higher Education Institute in the North West.
St Martin's College, Cumbria Institute of the Arts and UCLan’s Cumbrian campuses at Penrith and Carlisle plan to amalgamate to form a University for Cumbria in August 2007.
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