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Social on Business
Business Start-up Provision for
Disadvantaged People |
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1. Executive Summary
This is the final report to be produced from a project entitled “Social on Business” which was part of the GROW program. The Social on Business project looked to determine the framework needed across four regions of the EU to support people from disadvantaged groups who were interested in enterprise. The Project delivered on three issues, business creation, social inclusion and environmental impact.
This report follows nine months of intensive work in the SEEDA Region in a pilot project that engaged with and supported twenty four people from three disadvantaged groups. Disadvantage was defined as people who were suffering financial hardship, often receiving benefits, and in danger of, or experiencing, social exclusion. It therefore excluded those described as being part of under-represented groups but who were economically active or were financially secure. The Groups identified excluded disabled people, probably numerically the largest disadvantaged group, as there were a small number of limited programs from which comparable evidence was available. The Groups were: -
- Single parents, predominately women
- Black and ethnic communities
- Ex-offenders
Similar work with other disadvantaged groups has taken place in the three partner regions of Andalucia, Emilia Romagna and Malopolska. The report details the findings from the work conducted and summaries the findings of the four partners.
Initial research conducted, in the four Partner Regions, before the pilots into the existing business start-up support available to disadvantaged groups (DGs), showed a number of similar issues existed. These were: -
- Lack of any sustained and widespread specialised main stream support.
- Engagement with people from DGs who are recognised as being “hard to reach”.
- Because of lack of contact main stream Business Advisers lacked the confidence and knowledge in how to deal effectively with people from DGs.
- Lack of financial support available for business start-ups.
- Management of the expectations and development of people from DGs was poor.
- Lack of confidence and self-esteem experienced by people from DGs.
- Fear of moving out of Benefits.
Results from the pilots revealed a number of important conclusions: -
- Sustained one to one support required.
- Problems associated with engagement can be effectively addressed by projects involving community support.
- A holistic approach to the individual delivers better overall outcomes i.e. employment.
- Better training is required for Business Advisers who engage with DGs.
- More funding required for market research and start-up costs.
In the UK at the same that this project was running the Government was also reviewing, under the Business Support Simplification Program, support given to DGs. A number of the recommendations from the Social on Business project are also reflected in the latest BSSP proposals.
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