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Enterprise Training Programme, Handsworth, North Birmingham
A sound knowledge base in business counselling and outreach

Senior staff at the Community Roots Enterprise Centre (CREC) participated in the youngbusiness.net UK programme, and have enhanced their outreach, client engagement and community development schemes as well as their business support model.

CREC now specifically focuses on engaging with people from different communities, encouraging them to build on their strengths and develop their self-belief and business confidence. In collaboration with all of the youngbusiness.net UK partners, the project has sought to influence policy-makers and funders to recognise these ’softer’ outcomes of self-belief, business skills and business knowledge, rather than linking funding solely to business start-up rates.

The outstanding work that CREC has carried out in developing these ’soft’ skills clearly demonstrates how the project has benefited clients, and represents a strong argument for future funding streams to be focused on ‘people development’ and not just on ‘business development’.

CREC has been delivering business support in the ethically and culturally diverse area of North Birmingham for many years. As organisations become older, wiser and more efficient in delivering to hard-to-reach clients, so, perversely, the ability to attract funding and support becomes ever more difficult.

With support from the Charity Bank and the EDW team, CREC developed a sustainability plan that allows its core operation to continue to deliver its much needed support without relying on the continuous and resource-intensive pursuit of funding.

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