 We are so thrilled to share that we are the winner of the National Enterprise Network 2020 Enterprise Engagement Award! Although we have been shortlisted twice, this was the first year we have won. The National Enterprise Network Awards exist to support and celebrate the achievements of its members and the wider enterprise support sector. The awards look to not only celebrate excellence in the delivery of enterprise support, but also to encourage the exchange of good practice and the development of improved services and organisations. Our winning category was to show how we have collaborated in our communities or commercially to bring greater enterprise benefits. Sharing amazing activity we are undertaking that engages with our clients, or stakeholders, or local community in a high impact way. Please see here for an example of the pioneering work we are doing with our participants. Reflecting upon what has been a difficult year for all, we couldn't be happier to focus on our success and to maintain positivity and drive going forward into 2021. We would like to congratulate all other winners and runners up, who are also integral in supporting businesses to thrive at this time. 
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Enterprise Exchange are very excited to announce that we have won a bid with Innovate UK, to fund a brand new pioneering service which support people in prison to set up their own business. Alongside Immersive Computing, Coracle and The Centre of Entrepreneurs, our service is centred around the application of using existing VR technology and laptops, blended with distance learning. The project delivers a cost-effective and secure solution to the challenges faced by the prisons estate and Enterprise Exchange, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This Virtual Reality technology supports inmate confidence, self-esteem, mental health and wellbeing, by using content filmed in nature. HMP Belmarsh have agreed to pilot the project for roll-out in other prisons. This ground-breaking, in-cell, delivery platform will lead the way in revolutionising inmate rehabilitative education, irrespective of continuing COVID-19 restrictions or future waves. The innovation focusses on the application of existing technology in new areas, to deliver inmate training, using Virtual Reality headsets for immersive course content, blended with a laptop workbook, a record book and weekly phone calls, plus, an on-site mentor day with volunteer business owners.  One of our amazing participants Julie Siddiqi who created Together We Thrive empowering women in faith communities to be the best they can be, working together to really thrive.
She has been awarded an MBE as mentioned in an article here in the Windsor Observer Mrs Siddiqi is also the Founder of Sadaqa Day which she started in 2015 - with the aim of encouraging mosques, community groups and individuals to give something back to the areas where they live. Sadaqa Day provides a focus for busy people who cannot devote too much time to volunteering. It is a day of social action - one date in the calendar when individuals, mosques and other places of worship, schools, women’s and community groups, scouts and guides groups can get involved - undertaking ready-and-waiting small tasks that one volunteer can deal with in a day. We couldn't be more proud and inspired by her achievements. We share below a case study from one of our participants. In May 2019 I became unemployed after a 46-year career as a Dental Technologist. After 6 months on job seekers, no interviews, and no work I was put in touch with the “Shaw Trust” for further help. During one of my meetings the subject of my hobby of painting was discussed and I was told that I could be referred to Enterprise Exchange for business start-up support if I wanted to start my own company. Enterprise Exchange gave me a “Planning and Starting your business” workbook and a timetable with targets to reach, arranged phone calls from a Business Adviser & Case Manager. Between the book and the calls, I was given guidance of things to do and not do, given goals and organised into starting my own company over the period of 3 months, with backup consultation for another 6 months assistance if needed. The whole course has been of great help to me, organising me to where I have got to so far in my new career. I am sure without this aid things may have been different, mistakes would have been made, time and money wasted. Now I am a self-employed artist with my own company selling artwork on a regular basis, by doing this I have extended my career and bypassed the problem of long-term unemployment.
 Jessica Moody – J.MOODESUK CIC.
Introduction I am Jess, I am 26 and have 3 children (one stepchild) and a fiancé. When I was deciding to try and start my own business, I didn’t have the first clue where to start. I was a single mum of 2 and just knew I didn’t want to go back to work and miss out on my youngest's growth. I had no experience other than that I knew I loved helping people and I wanted to do something to make a difference to peoples lives. I initially wanted to set up a play café, but the idea of a mental health café came after having my son. I suffered with PND with him and when I was better I knew that I wanted to help others not feel the way I did. How Enterprise Exchange helped Enterprise Exchange helped hugely. Without them I wouldn’t have even got off the ground. They gave me the knowledge and confidence in my business that I needed to make the steps to becoming my own boss. Phil was an amazing support and always gave me tips specific to my business, so that I knew what I was doing when I had to go it alone. I only met Benna once as my son got poorly during the process, but she was a great help too in getting me driven to do the next steps needed without rushing ahead of myself. I can't thank you enough! How things have progressed During the process I had set up a website, Facebook and Instagram page, ready for when my business was up and running. I qualified as a CBT Practitioner and I created a logo to get myself known and also handed out business cards where I could. Just before COVID I ran my first event which although not many people showed up, it got my name out there more and gave me the confidence to go for it! Since the process finished I have paid someone to create me a logo and made new business cards and have adjusted my plans and scaled down. I managed to raise just over £1000 from a crowdfunding scheme set up by NatWest. This money is what has allowed me to actually start my business as I had no savings at all. I have been running free Zoom sessions and got my first client (although not a paying client due to not being registered, but she has agreed that she wants to carry on as a paid customer too). I have purchased a workspace for my garden to run sessions from there. I have added a little candle business as a sideline to start getting my name out elsewhere too, which are calming candles I will also use in my sessions too. I registered yesterday as a CIC and it has already been accepted so I am officially registered and ready to go. Now is time to try and get the clients in! I am so pleased with how far I have come, although it's been slow and steady, I got the understanding of how to run a business successfully and with a lot of obstacles in the way, with my son being hospitalised and I still managed to get to where I am today! "Thanks to Thames Valley Housing for allowing me to join a course with Enterprise Exchange, they have changed my life! Without them I would be having to look at going back to a 9-5 job, which would feel impossible for me with an ill child that needs me. They have given me the freedom, the confidence and the knowledge to run my own business and make it a success. Thank you to Phil from Enterprise Exchange, for believing in my idea and helping me to get to a reasonable scale to allow this to happen for me! Truly amazing people! Couldn’t recommend you more!" Social media links Instagram: @moodesuk Facebook: moodesuk Website Work number Work email "Thank you again so much for your support along this journey. You truly have changed my life for the better and I am so grateful!"  Could you give us a quick overview of your role at Enterprise Exchange?
As a Case Manager I am part of the team responsible for supporting the participants in their journey to self-employment. This can be anything from a weekly wellbeing check-in call, to helping them sort out problems, doing research, signposting and ensuring the administration behind the scenes is up to date to support the whole provision. What experience do you have which led you to work with Enterprise Exchange? I have established and built 3 small businesses. I was a Business Advisor with the Sussex Business Link for 7 years and have worked with many businesses for the last 25 years on business, marketing and people development strategies. I am also a qualified and accredited business, executive and career coach. Which aspect of your work do you enjoy most? My regular weekly check ins with the participants – its great to build trusting and supportive relationships, which ultimately help them grow their confidence to achieve their business goals. When you're not supporting Enterprise Exchange what do you enjoy doing? Working in my own coaching practice, playing golf (badly), keeping fit, travelling and spending quality time with friends and family. Tea or coffee? Also how do you like to drink it? Earl grey tea or oat milk latte. Thanks so much? How can people best contact you? By my email annabel@enterpriseexchange.org.uk  Could you give us a quick overview of your role at Enterprise Exchange?
I support participants with a weekly 15-minute phone call. I answer any questions or queries that have come to mind since their last Business Advisor meeting and signpost them to other sources of information. What experience do you have which led you to work with Enterprise Exchange? I worked in a similar role at the now-defunct Business Link just over 10 years ago. Since then I’ve worked as a job coach for people with mental health support needs, a social enterprise advisor and a training administrator for a safeguarding charity, many of which I did alongside running my own businesses. Which aspect of your work do you enjoy most? I love working one to one with people and building working relationships, but the thing that I most enjoy is helping people overcome personal challenges with a sense of satisfaction and a new direction. When you're not supporting Enterprise Exchange what do you enjoy doing? Running my photography business and writing and performing. My goal is to create a life in which I earn a comfortable income while never feeling like I’m working. I also love wrestling (watching and training). Tea or coffee? Also how do you like to drink it? Either. Both strong, but milky. And no it’s not a contradiction. Fight me. Thanks so much? How can people best contact you? By my email guy@enterpriseexchange.org.uk  We are excited to introduce Julie Stanford from Essential Business, which is the place to go for expert opinions, quick tips and practical and no-nonsense advice from enterprise experts and other business owners, on everything you need to know to start and run a thriving, successful business.
Julie also created our workbooks for our lucky participants on our remote self-employment course and has provided us with radio interviews from experts running their own business, to provide extra support to those starting out in their self-employment journey. In this interview we ask her some questions to find out more about the benefits. What inspired you to support people into self-employment? My own experience of starting and running businesses! When I launched Essential Business back in 2002, I had already been running my own design agency for 15 years. I had started that business from scratch, on my own, and as I looked for clients and wrestled with becoming an employer, marketing our services and juggling the finances, I became very (sometimes painfully!) aware of the challenges you face when you start out on your own. I’ve always felt that self-employment is far easier to talk or write about than to do. I also suspected that I wasn’t the only person who sometimes struggled to find the right answers to my many questions. Although there are lots of business books available and hundreds of pages of free content on the internet, sorting the good from the bad (and sometimes downright wrong!) was difficult and a waste of precious time. So, because my background was in planning and designing books and workbooks that people can read and understand, I decided to stop wondering and start doing. How will the workbooks and the information you share help others setting up their own business? Our goal has always been simple: clarify what’s involved in starting and running a business, ditch (or explain) the jargon, and create inviting and easy-to-follow content that helps build vital skills and understanding. We do that using plain English and a step-by-step approach so that people learn what they need to know when it comes to law, finance and marketing. No-one is born knowing how to run a business! You have to learn how to do it and it’s easier to do that with guidance and support, rather than through painful trial and error. I feel very proud that our Planning and Starting Your Business workbook has helped thousands of people start businesses. Why is it crucial to receive support when starting a business? Failure hurts and business failure can cause damage to your finances, your family and your future. Very often, that failure can be completely avoided if you’re properly supported and prepared. I think it’s immoral to say ‘business is easy’ when it isn’t. Just because a celebrity has made millions from a business venture, doesn’t mean you will. I’m more likely to say, “This can be tough, but you can learn how to do it” than, “Anyone can run a business, just go for it!” I’ve worked with Phil and Benna at Enterprise Exchange for many years. They are fantastic in the way they support their clients. Could you share with us your five top tips to help run a successful business? There are so many to choose from! Hopefully, these five will help: 1. Business is about money: too many businesses fail because they simply run out of money. Business owners need to learn about sales planning, cashflow forecasting and the crucial difference between cash and profit. Never buy unless you’re sure you can afford it and aim to price higher and prove the value to your customers, rather than dropping your price. Money is hard to earn, so treat it with respect. 2. Business is about customers: work hard to understand what your customers need and want from you. It’s so easy to fall into the trap of thinking you know what they want, but if you don’t learn what your customers are really thinking, they’ll simply shop elsewhere and you may never know why. Find ways to make your customers feel special and valued. Make sure to thank them for their custom and remember, it’s much easier to hold onto an existing customer than to find a new one. 3. Business is about responsibilities: once you start out on your own, you’re expected to know your legal responsibilities. This was one of my main reasons for launching Essential Business. It seemed unfair to me that people are expected to know such a huge amount. That’s why it’s so much better to do it with the support of organisations like Enterprise Exchange. So, you can get on with your business, knowing that you’ve been taught all the important things you need to know. 4. Business is about you: starting and running your own business is challenging, scary, hard work, massively exciting and rewarding. Often all at once! That’s why we included the ‘Why do this?’ tips in our workbook, to remind you that what you’re doing is something to be really proud of. Not everyone can do what you’re doing! 5. Business is not just about you: you’re not alone in your business. Your loved ones, family and friends will all be affected by your business at some point or another. You need to focus on keeping them on your side, and on board. Remember that when you’re working late on an exciting new project, they may not share your excitement and may simply want to spend time with you. Try to balance your time between them and your business. Not easy, once you get caught up in the excitement of your new business adventure but do-able if you make the decision and the commitment to remember how much they matter, too. One last point, you’re in good hands with Enterprise Exchange. I wish you all the luck in the world with your business. We are very excited to announce our new remote self-employment training programme, which is a remote course using augmented reality (see below video), that can be completed online and via the phone, making it accessible without traveling to a location. We can make this service bespoke to your client group. For example, each person could be allocated a business advisor to support with the practicalities of business set-up and a case manager to help with general organisation and building self-confidence. The course is aimed at the following people who:
What is included:
This remote self-employment programme is already being delivered across the UK as part of the Work and Health Programme and is the first of its kind. In the current climate, this programme will deliver the best quality self-employment support to your participants at the highest level. The current course we are delivering is a 9 month support programme, including peer to peer support groups and in-work support. We can tailor our programme to suit your organisation and participant needs, either for the short or longer term. Please see an overview of our core self-employment programme content here. For further information please email us here. Our directors, Phil Ashford and Benna McCartney of Enterprise Exchange joined Peter in the Foyne Jones Studio for an episode about Britain’s Prisons system. Together they discuss how some of the issues in our correctional facilities can be solved, the role they played in ‘Welcome to HMP Belmarsh Series with Ross Kemp’ and how Enterprise Exchange have helped change lives by getting offenders back on track. Finally we find out about Peter going back behind bars later this year.
Click on the link to listen here! Phil Ashford and Benna McCartney, our directors at Enterprise Exchange, joined Matt Smith from the Centre for Entrepreneurs, serial founder Oli Barrett MBE, actor and investigative journalist Ross Kemp and the Governor of for a Dragon's Den style pitching day at the prison. This was filmed as part of an ITV documentary looking at how inmates at Belmarsh are offered the chance to rehabilitate, through business and entrepreneurship education. Enterprise Exchange are a specialist agency focusing on helping people with additional barriers, such as prisoners or ex-offenders into self-employment. Research by the Centre for Entrepreneurs has shown that prisoners often possess an entrepreneurial mindset, and self-employment is an ideal route for their rehabilitation.  From back to front: Phil Ashford - Director Enterprise Exchange, Oli Barrett - MBE, Matt Smith - Director of Policy and Research Centre for Entrepreneurs, Deidre Stirling - Trustee Centre for Entrepreneurs, Georgia Grainger – Administrator and Participant Support and Benna McCartney – Director Enterprise Exchange. Over 30 prisoners applied for the popular self-employment programme at HMP Belmarsh, which focused on helping offenders (due for release within 12 months) prepare business plans to start their own businesses after release. During the 5-week self-employment programme, a group of 15 prisoners were supported and mentored by Enterprise Exchange and business owners and helped to build a business plan. Many of the business ideas had a social enterprise focus and during the pitches the judges heard a range of ideas including: a music studio, a boxing club for young people at risk of gang culture, a recruitment agency for ex-offenders, a dog walking business, a drama group which would go into schools and a charity which would provide clean water for refugee and conflict zones. The overall winner received a £1000 grant, jointly funded by the Centre for Entrepreneurs and Enterprise Exchange, to help make their business a reality on the outside.  This is Phil working his magic to engage and inspire business ideas, go Phil!
Our whole team and all the volunteers involved, worked effortlessly to support the prisoners. The TV programme aired on 9th January 2020 on ITV and is available to view on uTube HERE, until 8th of February 2020. If you would like Enterprise Exchange to train your client group in self-employment, or if you are working in a corporate environment and would like to get involved in our Management Development Programme, then please contact Phil Ashford on phil@enterpriseexchange.org.uk. We are very happy and proud to share that we are #Overtoyou Employer Registered. We have joined a powerful movement of forward-thinking and responsible businesses and organisations committed to making the workplace safer for everyone! Our director has been on a management training course, we have a policy set up in place and shared with the team, it basically sets a high standards of care, respect and empowerment. More about Survivors Network Looking to turn the #MeToo movement into further palpable change, Survivors’ Network has created a Kitemark for local businesses and organisations to demonstrate the active work they are undertaking to challenge sexual harassment and violence in the workplace. While the kitemark does not guarantee no sexual harassment will take place, it ensures better safeguards will be in place and, hopefully, that staff will be better prepared to believe and support survivors. Hooray for all the support that is in place.   Enterprise Exchange specialises in helping people with additional barriers become self-employed or start a business to transform their lives. One of our current projects is Restart in which (alongside our colleagues at Beating Time and Enterprise Inspiration), we provide business support to offenders approaching release and help develop plans for self-employment. Beating Time also offers offenders the chance to improve their self-confidence and self-belief through joining a choir and using the power of singing.
Over 80,000 people come out of UK prisons each year. Around half re-offend. With Restart, we help reduce the cycle of re-offending by supporting offenders to develop the skills they need to start their own small businesses or find work on release. However, for many ex-offenders it’s a long journey of re-building lives, self-confidence and trust. The following organisations all offer help and support in various areas: Nacro offers a wide range of services to equip young people and adults with the skills, advice and support to move on. There is information on the website, or a resettlement helpline - 0300 123 1999. Calls are free for those with inclusive call minutes, otherwise the call is charged at a local rate. Turn 2 Us is an organisation offering financial support for people (including prisoners) when times get tough. Apex Trust is a local specialist charity based in the North West of England which supports offenders into employment, training, education and voluntary work. Women in Prison provides support and advice in prison, through-the-gate on the day of release, and continued support in the community. St Giles Trust works in prisons to help serving prisoners successfully rehabilitate and pursue crime free lives. Unlock is a charity that provides a voice and support for people with convictions who are facing stigma and obstacles because of their criminal record, often long after they have served their sentence. Working Chance works with some of the UK’s biggest private and public sector companies, finding jobs and with real career prospects for hundreds of women ex-offenders and young care leavers. Working Links is a leading provider of tailored services to help people from all backgrounds maximise their potential. In particular, the organisation has rehabilitation services in Wales and the South West for offenders. Shelter can offer vital advice if an ex-offender has nowhere to live on release. If a person with convictions has worked in the construction industry, been self-employed, been in the armed forces or wishes to become self-employed, RIFT social enterprise can help resolve tax issues, and provide guidance around the financial issues to do with self-employment. Catch 22 provides support in prison through to release and resettlement into the community to reduce the risk of re-offending. BehindBras offers support for women both in prison and on release into meaningful employment in the fashion, retail and creative industries. Please share this blog post with anyone you feel would benefit from these resources.  Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become something of a buzz word in business over the past few years. Such initiatives take organisations beyond their legal duties and can see them contributing to projects which make a difference to society.
“88% of consumers said they were more likely to buy from a company that supports and engages in activities to improve society.” * In short, CSR is good for business and it’s good for the world around us. It can be difficult though to see how to build on corporate social responsibility and keep the business on track too, especially if you are running a small business. But CSR has been shown to increase employee retention and job satisfaction, so it’s worth looking at ways to incorporate it into a business plan. Here are five simple tips to use CSR: 1. Let your employees choose or lead on your CSR involvement It’s empowering to be asked your opinion. It’s also rewarding to know that you are helping causes you care about. Employees may already be involved in charities and causes outside of work and will value the chance to continue this support. It also offers team leaders an insight into employees outside interests. 2. Think local, instead of global There’s a lot to be said for supporting a local cause. Your team is likely to be more motivated to know the organisation is supporting something where they can see the difference, rather than going into a bigger pot. It also means that you’re more likely to find something which is close to the hearts of many more employees as they can really identify with the issues and see the end results. 3. Make sure that senior team members are visible CSR programmes that are entered half-heartedly don’t work and risk the possibility of clients and customers thinking that the initiative is simply a marketing ploy. By showing that every single member of the team is involved demonstrates commitment. This message is also important to staff as well; seeing senior staff contributing too will show that it’s a level playing field. 4. Shout about it! The success of a CSR project is something to be proud of, so make sure you share your news far and wide. This pride in the initiative will pass to employees too and they will be encouraged to spread the word in turn. Naturally, it’s also great for the causes you’re supporting. 5. Communicate the impact internally You will want to make a difference; that’s why your business is taking prioritising corporate social responsibility in the first place. Ensure that you have some strong markers in place to show the impact of the work so that progress can be shared with employees. A CSR initiative should never be just a tick box exercise so consider regular updates which can be used as an incentive when an extra boost is needed. At Enterprise Exchange, we also have a management development programme where we train managers to become mentors to individuals in the local community who need support, advice and encouragement to start their own business. These individuals include offenders, ex-offenders, long term unemployed, people with mental health issues, people with disabilities and lone parents. More details can be found here, or please contact info@enterpriseexchange.org.uk to start the conversation. Sources: Simply CSR, Forbes, The Borgen Project  For small and medium business (SME) owners, the ‘to-do’ list may feel never ending. There is always another metric to check or possible lead to follow-up. Trends come and go too. However, one which shows no signs of going away is that of corporate social responsibility (CSR), and is one which may be worth adding to the ‘to-do’ list. It is one area which has been proven to be beneficial to many businesses in terms of profits and staff morale.
The scale of course can change according to the size of the company. For some businesses, it may be about doing a fun run with a team of employees for a local charity, while for others sponsoring a whole community project for many years may be an option. Certain themes are emerging which will be useful to bear in mind if you are considering CSR for your business. The environment Climate change is no longer just a buzz phrase. The effects are very real, and action is needed particularly around prevention, rather than providing support after natural disasters. Local initiatives can be particularly effective especially around beach clean-ups, work on flood defences and use of plastics within a business. Regular sustainable support is the key here and small steps are the key – consider an initiative such as banning single use plastic water bottles throughout your business. Generation Z Generation Z – those born after the mid-1990s – are entering the workforce as well as becoming consumers in the world market. Expect Generation Z-ers, who are the real early adopters as well as being digitally savvy, to demand better and easier-to-use technology, more flexibility in the workplace, more freedom of choice, and greater degrees of acceptance and transparency in the workplace and marketplace. Reduce travel It isn’t always possible or viable for business to reduce carbon footprints immediately and drastically but, again, every business can make changes which all contribute to making a difference. Video conferencing has made remote working much quicker and easier so consider using this as much as possible, rather than travelling to meetings. Also consider introducing a subsidised travel card system for staff so that walking and using public transport becomes the norm. Installing a bike rack at your premises or encouraging carpooling and encouraging home working are all achievable incentives too. Keep up-to-date In a constantly changing world, it’s more important than ever for business owners to keep up-to-speed with trends and initiatives. Diversity, inclusion and equality are to the fore and it will be necessary to ensure that your company is compliant with any changes in these areas. Look out for local and national training that you can tap into. Check your supply chain Your own business may be looking to its corporate social responsibility but how about that of your suppliers? Who are your providers and do your values align? Using local businesses for catering and supplies not only supports your local economy and other small businesses, it also cuts back on shipping, fuel, manufacturing, and logistics. Enterprise Exchange also runs a management development programme aimed at supporting CSR goals. We train managers to be effective mentors and match them with an individual we see could be supported by them. We then support them to make a real and long-lasting difference to that person and consequently to the local community. This unique and innovative programme not only provides valuable training for managers in all areas of team management, it results in increased staff retention, higher productivity, enhanced leadership and mentoring skills and it provides tangible corporate social responsibility outputs. Sources: Small business trends, Forbes, The Borgen Project |
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