Home › Practical support & advice › Management community › Professional networks › Merseyside Branch › St Helens Enterprise Clubs

St Helens Enterprise Clubs

Submitted by Nicola Worsley on Sat, 05/02/2011 - 19:16

I read today that St Helens has one of the countries first Enterprise Clubs.  Here's what the DWP has to say about the clubs.

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/adviser/updates/enterprise-clubs/

The main aim of Enterprise Clubs is to help people make the most of local knowledge and resources to help unemployed people in their communities set themselves up as self-employed or start their own business.

They're being run in partnership with local chambers of commerce.

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/newsroom/press-releases/2011/jan-2011/dwp012-11.shtml

Nice idea.  Be good to get some of those on here networking with fellow managers.

You are not watching this post, click to start watching
Submitted by Mike Davies on Sun, 06/02/2011 - 17:50

Interesting idea.  A bit like this place then really?  A network of people ready and willing to help out.  Maybe a partnership or something could be forged?

Submitted by Charlie Fox on Mon, 07/02/2011 - 21:46

Hmm, I'm in two minds about this.  On the one hand you have people who are unemployed out of bad luck or whatever, and a bit of help might see them make a decent stab at running a business.

On the other you have people who are unemployed becaues they're not very good at their job.  Surely giving them resources to start up doing something they're not very good at is a bit of a waste?

Submitted by Martin Hudson MCMI on Mon, 14/02/2011 - 21:07

Interesting idea wonder if we should invite others to join the discussion. I could put it out in a branch e -blast or set up a branch event that explores this issue. What are your thoughts? 

Submitted by on Tue, 15/02/2011 - 06:23

Martin Hudson wrote:

Interesting idea wonder if we should invite others to join the discussion. I could put it out in a branch e -blast or set up a branch event that explores this issue. What are your thoughts? 

Sounds great Martin.  More the merrier.  Do you know someone that's using this scheme (or helping set it up)?

Submitted by Martin Hudson MCMI on Tue, 15/02/2011 - 17:53

Hi Wayne, No I don't but will find out ,Nicola do you?

 

Submitted by on Wed, 16/02/2011 - 06:05

It's a bit odd that there's nothing in Google on it, I mean no way of contacting 'the club'.  This thread is the third listing!

Submitted by Martin Hudson MCMI on Wed, 16/02/2011 - 10:48

Interesting. I will forward the link to some of our members, who work for the St Helens chamber or the College . They are probabley not aware of the discussion

Submitted by Mike Davies on Wed, 16/02/2011 - 10:49

Someone must be in charge of the thing :)  Be good to get some insight from those in the know.

Submitted by Martin Hudson MCMI on Wed, 16/02/2011 - 12:04

I agree Mike, as promised I have already forwarded the forum link.

Submitted by Andrew Wilcock MCMI on Sun, 20/03/2011 - 23:45

This is what is happening and has been posted from St Helens Chamber.

Hope this helps.

On behalf of JobCentre Plus St Helens Chamber is managing the New Enterprise Allowance Scheme across the whole of Merseyside working in collaboration with Merseyside Chambers. We have recruited c 100 Mentors to date but we need even more as demand is really high. The scheme is focussed on helping unemployed people to start their own business and in addition to mentoring there is up to £2000 worth of financial support available. So if you are a local business person who wants to help the local economy then please contact us at the Chamber.

Submitted by Mike Davies on Mon, 21/03/2011 - 10:27

Thanks for that Andrew.  It's interesting that so many different groups seem to be offering mentoring these days.  It seems very possible that there is a real overlap existing here.  Maybe a more unified approach would be better for all concerned?