Self Employment Programme
• overcomes personal barriers and limits to success •
• provides complete and practical start up business advice •
• offers ongoing contact and support •
• provides complete and practical start up business advice •
• offers ongoing contact and support •
Specialised start-up business support for people with challenging circumstances
At Enterprise Exchange we are very aware that many people dream of running their own business and have inspiring ideas, but for various reasons, they have barriers to face and hurdles to get over and this can stop people even thinking about starting a business.
We have extensive experience of working with people from deprived areas and with disadvantaged backgrounds; many of our participants are offenders, ex-offenders, long-term unemployed, have mental health issues, are lone parents or are from ethnic minority backgrounds.
What we offer
Workshops
Our workshops are for anybody needing support to start up a new business. They were developed following research we conducted into self employment support for prisoners and ex–offenders. Our support is practical, non academic and is focused on confidence and self- esteem, as well as the technical skills for starting up in self-employment. This programme was designed after research conducted in HMP Ford and HMP Lewes, in partnership with the University of Brighton.
The three workshops run over three days and cover an introduction to self employment, business planning and sales and marketing. They are a chance for like minded people to come together to plan their new businesses and set up their own networks.
Workshops can be tailored for each group and we can vary the content to make it relevant.
One to one meetings
These give our participants the chance to talk through their ideas in a supportive environment. We are able to look at issues of self esteem, confidence and wellbeing, as well as business planning.
Follow up support
This continues once businesses get going. We have been involved with many people for whom starting their own business has turned their lives around and given them much more than just a regular income.