In January 2007 the Northwest Development Agency (NWDA) commissioned EnterpriseConsulting to conduct a study of the region’s ‘Enterprise Culture’ activity which involved more than 40 delivery partners, a database of 400 education and business providers, interviews with over 250 business leaders and a survey of over 850 householders.
The NWDA ‘Rising to the Enterprise Challenge’ report outlines that the aims of the research have been to:
• Produce an enterprise framework that will provide a coordinated approach to creating an enterprise culture in the Northwest.
• Research the key components:
1. Mapping the supply of educational activities to understand the co-ordination of this activity within the region
2. Identifying entrepreneurial hot spots and the reasons behind these areas
3. Identifying good working practices that currently exist to encourage enterprising cultures
• Provide a clear evidence base to guide the role of the agency in
influencing, coordinating or lobbying support for an enterprising
culture.
Following analysis the following key challenges represent the basis of the strategic framework for rising to the enterprise challenge are as follows:
• There is too little focus on encouraging enterprising attitudes and
behaviour as existing policy and provision focuses too much on
‘business’ awareness and skills
• Existing provision is often misaligned with the needs of individuals
• There are a number of activities occurring in isolation with little coordination and knowledge sharing
• The potential of excluded groups and the informal economy is being wasted
• Enterprise education is not embedded or consistent with the needs of a modern economy.
The report proposes the following solutions to each of the key challenges in order for the North West to rise to the enterprise challenge these involve:
• Changing enterprising attitudes, capabilities and behaviours
• Coordinating activity and sharing knowledge
• Ensure enterprise education is lifelong in education, business and the community
• Effective targeting of activity where it is needed
• Un-tapping the potential of excluded groups and the formal economy
The framework is documented in the form of a single plan which helps to identify where outlined actions have potential to cut-across multiple solutions and describes NWDA’s role in terms of either action or influence.
The framework is outlined on Page 7 of the Rising to the Enterprise Challenge - Executive Summary which is available to view and download from www.nwda.co.uk/areas-of-work/business/enterprise/enterprise-culture.aspx
To find out more about the North West Regional Development Agency visit http://www.nwda.co.uk/default.aspx