The one day conference provided an opportunity to find out how Yorkshire and Humber local enterprise growth initiatives (LEGI’s) are progressing in their challenge to regenerate some of the UK’s most disadvantaged communities.
Yorkshire and Humber were successful in five areas; Leeds, Bradford, North East Lincolnshire, Sheffield and Doncaster. LEGI programme managers opened the day and outlined the innovative and creative projects established using LEGI funding; highlighting what worked well, what hadn’t and LEGI legacies. Although there were common themes in programme delivery each area had unique approaches to enterprise generation.
It is evident that the Regional Development Agency Yorkshire Forward have taken an active role in supporting LEGI and that along with the five LEGI areas have a close working relationship and that has provided an invaluable support network throughout the life of the initiatives.
It was encouraging to hear about the legacy the initiatives are leaving and that serious consideration is being given to this. Doncaster outlined future plans to refocus the initiatives remit and use the programme as a vehicle to get information to residents, not just around enterprise. This approach has the opportunity to tie into Working Neighbourhood Renewal Funding and Real Help for Communities Now. The benefit here is that the project will reach the same audience but with a different message. North East Lincolnshire outlined ambitious plans for an E-Factor Enterprise Academy.
Throughout the day delegates attended workshops led by LEGI areas which provided opportunities to hear about:
• Engaging communities
• Investing in sustainability
• Engaging business
• Access to finance
• Enterprise and young people
• Business coaching
‘Engaging Communities’ led by Sharing the Success, Leeds provided an insight into the invaluable role Community Motivators play in engaging with people in hard to reach communities by building a presence in the local community.
Places for People shared their experience of developing Strictly Come Business an enterprising community’s project to engage social housing tenants. The project took the form of a business challenge with pitches to ‘friendly’ dragons. Visit www.strictlycomebusiness.com for further information.
Enterprise and young people led by BiG Sheffield stimulated interesting ideas around whether the focus should be on enterprise education or entrepreneurship. The BiG team shared the success of the BiG Challenge and Enterprise Survey which sees students rate themselves on how enterprising they are.
For further information about each of the LEGI areas visit:
Leeds – www.sharingthesuccess.co.uk
Bradford – www.bradfordkickstart.com
North East Lincolnshire – www.e-factor.co.uk
Sheffield – www.thebigwebsite.org.uk
Doncaster – www.successdoncaster.co.uk