National Research Programme, England
Young People and Enterprise in Deprived Communities
The Project
The EDW team is developing a ground-breaking national research programme focusing on young people and enterprise, to be undertaken in both urban and rural areas, in the nine regional development areas around England.
The project aims to undertake difficult and challenging research that hitherto has not been attempted.
The intention is to provide a robust body of research which, at national level, will have a profound impact on policy development. On a practical level, the research findings should provide information and recommendations to assist practitioners in the design, adaptation and implementation of their programmes of enterprise support for young people in disadvantaged communities in England.
Background
In the UK, Central Government policy towards enterprise has seen an increasing prominence given to promoting an enterprise culture generally. There has been a particular focus on encouraging the development of sustainable approaches to stimulating enterprise within disadvantaged communities.
The implementation of this policy has been reinforced by a plethora of enterprise support initiatives, through funding provided by the European Commission, Central Government, Regional Development Agencies and Local Authorities. Alongside this, there has been a particular interest in looking at ways in which young people can be supported through these various enterprise initiatives.
The result has been an increasing trend in the UK to raise awareness of enterprise as a career option among young people and to encourage them to set up and develop their own businesses, particularly in disadvantaged communities.
Existing Research
Research has been undertaken into developing effective approaches to engage with young people and promote self-employment as an option within disadvantaged communities. However, research to date suggests that only anecdotal evidence exists as to the social and practical influences, factors and interventions that result in the development of successful businesses run by young people, or business failure. This lack of research may be resulting in faulty policy development feeding through into inappropriate or inadequate interventions and support for young people within disadvantaged communities.
"The conventional definition of management is getting work done through people, but real management is developing people through work."
Agha Hasan Abedi (1922 - 1995)