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by Lib Dem team on 11 September, 2010
From Stockport Council:
Stockport’s Intensive Start-up Support Service (ISUS) programme, provided by Stockport Council, The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and the Northwest European Regional Development Fund
(ERDF), is celebrating a successful first year, with the creation of over 70 new businesses. The ISUS programme aims to ensure that individuals who are in need of support to start a business possess the relevant skills and confidence. It also works to ensure that they receive practical assistance to set up their business, as well as ongoing support to improve business survival and growth rates. Stockport’s programme started in August 2009 and is delivered by Blue Orchid and Train 2000 at dedicated premises in Stockport Business Incubator at Broadstone Mill in Reddish. It aims to support enterprising individuals into self employment with free one-to-one advice and group workshops. Since August 2009, 76 new businesses have been created. The Council, through Blue Orchid, also offers pre-start up support specifically for over 50’s through the Silver Entrepreneurs initiative. For more information contact Train 2000 on 0161 833 8800 email: info@train2000.org.uk or Blue Orchid on 0161 485 4949 email: startup@theblueorchid.co.uk.
Reduction in numbers of 16 to 18 year olds Not in Education, Employment and Training (NEET)
Services for Young People – Connexions, has been able to report a welcome reduction in the numbers of 16-18 year olds NEET in July 2010 (626) compared with July 2009 (766), with a significant reduction of 24% of 17 year olds who are NEET. The 12% reduction in NEET young people aged 18, is consistent with data from Job Centre Plus, which is showing a reduction in 18-24 year old Job Seeker Allowance claimants in Stockport.
Additionally, we have more young people in learning than this time last year:
· 83.0% of 16-18 year olds were reported as “participating in learning” (PiL) in July 2010 compared with 80.6% in July 2009.
· In July 2010, Connexions Personal Advisers recorded 2,703 “interventions” with 2,075 young people, compared with 2,482 interventions with 1,864 young people in July 2009.
· Connexions Stockport website recorded 6,675 visits during July (a daily average of 215), the highest monthly figure recorded during the past year.
2 Comments
Hi Iain, I’ll have a look at the schemes you mention as my experience has not been quite so positive. I have just started up on my own, operating a brownfield remediation contracting and consulting business (www.chandosremediation.com). Last month I registered with the NWRDA new business programme ‘high growth’. I have been advised the progamme has been put on hold due to a current funding freeze.
Hi Richard,
My experience of the NWDA was well meaning but, when it came down to it, not very useful.
The plan is to replace the RDAs with LEPs (Local Economic Patnerships, I think). Whether those prove to be better remains to be seen.