The Centre for Enterprise (CfE) has many years' experience of helping people to start up their own businesses. And we provide access to ongoing practical and mentor support.

We're also proud to be the Regional Contractor for the New Entrepreneur Scholarship (NES) programme (www.nesprogramme.org) and have helped over 1000 people start their own business in the North West.

This practical experience is backed up by researchers and practitioners working with us, who have experience running, devising and evaluating start-up programmes at MMU and with partner organisations.

How can we help you start a business?

We can help you start a new business in a number of ways:

• through a free place on the New Entrepreneur Scholarship (NES)
• by using one of our free business analysis tools to give you help and guidance
• with access to successful entrepreneurs or to business support organisations
• with our short courses and masterclasses.

New Entrepreneur Scholarships

The New Entrepreneur Scholarship (NES) is a free part-time business development programme for people wanting to start and manage their own businesses. NES programmes are run across the North West, in Manchester, Rochdale, Oldham, Liverpool, Lancashire, Cumbria and Barrow-in-Furness.

What does NES offer?

• Part-time business and IT development programme
• Individual professional support
• Full access to computer and IT facilities
• Help with finance and investment
• Expert advice from successful entrepreneurs
• Optional qualifications
• Business support funding

NES is funded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and managed nationally by the National Federation of Enterprise Agencies in partnership with The Prince's Trust and the Association of Business Schools. While we are the Regional Contractor for the programme, we work with numerous partners to run the programme across the region. These include Manchester Business Consortium, Rochdale Borough Economic Partnership, the University of Central Lancashire, Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, Liverpool John Moores University, Furness Enterprise and St Martin's College.

To find out more about the New Entrepreneur Scholarship and how to apply for the programme, visit the North West NES website: www.nesnw.co.uk

Business Analysis Tools - Clarity, Balance and Business Planner

We have developed a number of business analysis tools to help you start and grow your business. These will help you reflect on your businesses and gain access to our academic business analysts, who can guide and direct you on the best ways to improve your company. Our three key business analysis tools are Clarity, Balance and Business Planner.

1. Clarity

If you are a small to medium sized business, then Clarity can help. We have specifically designed it to offer you an assessment and analysis of your business strengths and weaknesses. Our business analysts will guide you through the Clarity assessment and analysis of your organisation's activities, and you'll also receive a report offering guidance on developing your business capabilities.

2. Balance

If your company operates in the social economy – such as a social enterprise, co-operative, social firm or voluntary organisation – then Balance can help. Balance is a free business tool, funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) which we have specially created as a business performance analysis tool for the social economy sector.

Balance is an online tool that can offer a number of key benefits to you and your business:

• through a series of scenarios, it helps you reflect and identify your current business practice
• it provides an instant diagnosis of your strengths and weaknesses
• it builds a personalised strategic development plan for your business, which outlines steps you can take to develop your organisational capabilities.

To find out more visit www.socialenterprisebalance.org

We have developed an online business analysis tool called The Business Planner, which will give you an outline of a business plan. It can save you time and update your progress through various stages.