STIMULATING ENTERPRISE THROUGH COACHING

The project aims to build an entrepreneurial culture in deprived communities where it is currently absent, which will encourage more people to become self employed and start their own businesses, in effect becoming trail blazers in their communities.

The project will equip those individuals who are identified as having the potential for self employment with the confidence and skills required to access mainstream business support, or other routes to added value economic activity.

A number of Enterprise Coaches will achieve this by working within deprived and under-represented communities to target and find people who have the potential to start their own business and create new employment. To do this, Coaches will explore the motivation, resources, attitudes and ideas of the people with whom they work.  This will be through existing networks and services in local communities.  For example, local libraries will be used to promote information about available support and to run sessions with community groups to speak directly to local people. 

Coaches will have a good understanding of Business Link and other services and will support clients as they progress.  Once individuals are settled into this more in-depth support Coaches will move them on to mainstream provision. Coaches will continue to work with the client to ensure that they have all of the support necessary to start up in business.

The Enterprise Coaching Programme is specifically targeted at individuals who are in the very early stages of thinking about self employment. Typically support can consist of:

•        One to one informal confidential business discussion sessions
•        Confidence building
•        Exploring business ideas
•        Looking at other issues which entrepreneurs need to consider
•        Identifying the barriers and breaking them down
•        Signposting to all other business support services on start up

Support can be delivered informally in the local community or at local venues. It can be on a one to one basis or to a group of local individuals.

In addition there is access to the Enterprise Adviser via Email or telephone.

Project Manager      Aftab Khan
                            0121 607 1834
                            AKhan@birminghamchamber.org.uk