M1/51

Developing Diversity (WM)

Russell Square House

10-12 Russell Square

London

WC1B 5BZ

Joint Chief Executive

Telephone (0171) 872 9000 Fax (0171) 872 9099

This project aims to provide learning and development opportunities for entrepreneurs and managers within the Hillfields URBAN area. It provides a form of specialist support, which builds upon provision from other agencies and groups such as Hillfields Area Co-ordination, the Job and Training Action Group, and the Osaba Women’s Centre. There will be a wide range of different forms of interaction, liaison and consultation with local partners and providers including referral, provision of specialist advice and guidance, mentoring, learning delivery etc.

Within this area there are a large number of individuals with skills, experiences, hobbies and interests which could, with the correct form of support, be developed into viable commercial or social community enterprises.

In addition there are also a number of micro and small businesses that, with the correct type of support, could develop and expand creating local wealth and employment opportunities.

The project aims to bring a rigorous yet supportive approach to those most informal economic organisations active in Hillfields. The METO will utilise local contacts and experience to customise and inform that approach it has developed through its activities elsewhere nationally. It will use the enterprise and management NVQ framework responsively in the light of issues raised by e.g.; the role of women from ethnic minorities in enterprise development.

A particular interest will be customising these strategies to take account of the most informal of community groups, community enterprises and more traditionally understood businesses and companies. All support will be delivered in situ where possible, and will be of a very practical nature, integrating training and trading with accreditation. The project will also attempt to enable people to respond to opportunities in the broader Coventry area.

As the National Training Organisation for Management and Enterprise, METO has developed and is aware of numerous support programmes for existing businesses and for those people wishing to establish a business. There are also a number of programmes aimed at improving entrepreneurial and business development skills. What is apparent,, on studying these programmes in more detail, is that they are focused on traditional businesses or opportunities within the mainstream markets. What is apparent, on studying Hillfields in more detail, is that it is not a mainstream market. This means that many of the support services available would be of limited value to entrepreneurs or existing businesses within the Hillfields area.

This difference in the marketplace comes from the diversity, which is expressed across all aspects of life within the Hillfields area. For example the food and catering industry in the area is affected and influenced by a whole range of cultures, tastes and experiences. Anyone wishing to open a food store in this area would have to be acutely aware of the local diverse markets in order to cater for the needs of the local people and develop a successful enterprise.

This project aims to acknowledge the diverse nature of the local and cultural communities, and to build upon this understanding to support the development and diversification of the local and commercial economies. In order to achieve this, services will include:

• Labour market research and report writing to identify the diverse range of skills and experiences present in the Hillfields area
• Skills audits and training analysis for 190 managers and supervisors and local entrepreneurs, leading to the development of individual action plans and the identification and development of relevant learning programmes
• Skills audits and training needs analyses for 110 local unemployed people with a view to helping develop a small enterprise through learning, development, accreditation, assessment and mentoring
• Accreditation of activity wherever possible to improve an individual’s employability

• The development of transferable skills, to enable an individual to seek alternative employment should their business venture fail
• Practical delivery of learning and support, in situ, to integrate training and trading with accreditation in very innovative and creative way, befitting of a National Training Organisation
• Mentoring and Consultancy to provide generic and specific expertise and advice

• A networking opportunity to allow individuals to share good practice, experience and mutual support

• Delivery through a network of local partners and providers as individual needs are identified, to make use of and add value to existing provision, to learn from local agencies, and to provide networking opportunities and an opportunity to have good practice in a co-ordinated and focused manner

This project will continue to support the Hillfields URBAN Action Plan by;

• Tapping "the latent strengths of the local community to support the regeneration of the implementation" (page 6)
• Tackling "those areas of activity which conventional regimes often miss" (page 6)
• Empowering "the local community with the aim of achieving a self sustaining community based ion increase economic activity and wealth creation" (page 6)
• Providing value for money and adding value to local provision
• Giving priority to disadvantaged groups such as unemployed, single parents, ex-offender, ethnic minorities, those in low pay/low skill occupations. This will include positive local marketing strategies and removal of barriers such as childcare and disabled access
• Clear and unequivocal support for equal opportunities issues as demonstrated in METO’s comprehensive Equal Opportunities Policy

• Local involvement, support and consultation at all levels in partnerships with local groups and agencies. Also provision for local people to consult with national agencies and groups about specific issues such as individual business ideas and opportunities

• The individuals and businesses will be supported to a level whereby they receive a lasting impact from the project e.g.; accreditation to nationally recognised standards. In addition the project will aim to create a directory of local support services to pass on to beneficiaries and local entrepreneurs, and also METO services such as advice on employee development opportunities will continue to be available after the lifetime of the project.

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