New high-growth scheme for entrepreneurs with IntoEnterprise

The Centre for Enterprise (CfE) at MMU Business School is helping to launch an exciting new high-growth project backed by over a million pounds from the North West Regional Development Agency and European Regional Development Fund

The new project is called IntoEnterprise and is launched in partnership with higher education and voluntary organisations including the School of Business and Enterprise (SBE) at St Martin’s College, the University of Central Lancashire, and Voluntary Action Cumbria.

IntoEnterprise will provide free expertise and comprehensive programmes of support to new entrepreneurs across the North West, and aims to help 110 businesses by July 2008. It offers access to business experts and coaching, online business skills training, advertising and promotional opportunities plus support.

It’s specially designed to help them maximise their potential and achieve fast track growth. It can help entrepreneurs in the private and community sectors with important preparation and planning in the early days of starting up, and at least within the first year of trading. It is also aimed at entrepreneurs who have taken the NES programme run by MMU Business School and partner organisations across the region.

High-growth programme

“The aim of the project is to improve the formation, survival and growth rate of enterprises,” explains Kevin Boles, Head of the School of Business and Enterprise at St Martin’s College in Lancaster.

“IntoEnterprise is a high-growth programme and will benefit many new businesses, including those that have started up under the NES programme, helping them take their businesses that extra step forward towards growth and success,” Kevin added.

“NES is designed to promote and engender enterprise and self-employment in socially deprived areas of England. Over the last seven years, the programme has developed a number of great initiatives and now is the time to bring these together in a single project.”

The project will focus on enterprises based within specific areas in Manchester, East Lancashire, Blackpool, Lancaster, Morecambe, Barrow, West Cumbria, Carlisle and Eden Valley.

Peer support network

One key element is a peer support network, which will foster a business ‘community’ by putting businesses in contact with each other. Plus there’s a dynamic ‘enterprise portal’ which will feature a virtual enterprise library, virtual notice boards, news areas, diagnostic tools and signposts to enterprise opportunities.

“We need IntoEnterprise because 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 – yet only around one-third of new start-ups make it to their fourth year. We want to change that,” says Project Manager, Karl Lester.

“IntoEnterprise is a great way to get extra help with your business, help it grow to the next level, and ultimately improve your bottom line,” he explains.

“Entrepreneurs can receive mentor support, a full business diagnostic, an action plan, support from a business advisor, the chance to get involved in action learning groups, and masterclasses to develop and hone business skills. It’s free to take part but entrepreneurs will need to give their time, commitment and bring along a passion for their business.”

Karl added: “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.”

To find out more, visit www.intoenterprise.com or email: cfe@mmu.ac.uk