New £1.2 million contract for NES

NES has been given the green light for a new contract that will see extra funding of £1.2 million for the region and the prospect of 500 new places for scholars across the North West.

Now in its seventh year, NES is delivered by a partnership between the National Federation of Enterprise Agencies (NFEA), the Prince’s Trust and the Association of Business Schools and delivers training to match the needs of today’s entrepreneurs. Over 1,000 people have received help, advice and training to start up a new business in the region since NES began.

Dominic Martinez, NES Project Manager at Manchester Metropolitan University Business School (MMUBS) explains: “This is fantastic news for budding business men and women throughout the region!”

“The new contract will not only mean additional funding to help boost the regional economy, it will also directly fund 239 NES start up businesses,” added Dominic. “And with matched funding from various partners across the region, this means that North West NES partners hope to offer 500 places to people on NES courses around the region in the coming year.”

“The renewal of the contract also demonstrates that the North West is highly trusted as a delivery partner for NES. This rightly reflects all the hard work and dedication shown by the organisers and tutors of all the programmes run in Liverpool, Preston, Rochdale, Oldham, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, Manchester, St Martin’s, Lancaster, Blackpool and Burnley,” he added. “Everyone involved in delivering NES across the region should be very proud that their efforts have been recognised at the highest level.”

Government support

Helen Lazarus, Head of Development and Projects at NFEA said: “NES fulfils the Government's desire to encourage successful entrepreneurial activity and improve business survival through learning. Entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of our economy, helping to create wealth and generate exciting new employment opportunities. Thanks to this new investment, we are delighted to say NES will continue to support enterprise development in the most deprived communities. The fact that scholar places and funding have been renewed once again just shows how strongly the Government recognises NES as a highly valuable programme which it is keen to support."

“We are very pleased with the continued additional support for this scheme,” commented Jonathan Slack, Chief Executive of the Association of Business Schools (ABS) and speaking on behalf of national NES partners. “The programme has and will continue to ensure that the scholars involved have the right business and management tools to get started, survive and stay competitive – undoubtedly this programme will change lives.”

NES partners, The Prince’s Trust, added: “It’s great that support remains strong for this fantastic scheme. NES continues to give budding entrepreneurs first class training to help turn their business ideas into successful enterprises.”

To find out more about NES in the North West, visit www.nesnw.co.uk