The University of Winchester is running a special Start Up Course for students this summer to boost their chances of employment after they have graduated.

Part of the Inspiring Enterprise project, the University will be running a range of workshops, advice sessions, mentoring and networking events throughout the summer for those wishing to develop their ideas. Students will be paired up with mentors, meet with industry specialists, build connections and offered access to a huge pool of shared resources.

When? The course will be open to all students and unemployed graduates who live along, or are prepared to travel to the M3 corridor. The course will run every Thursday evening from 6.30pm until 8.30pm in central Winchester.  

Lindsey Birtwhistle, Inspiring Enterprise project-coordinator for the University of Winchester says: “People who are graduating now are going into a very uncertain job market and the transferable skill set that they can pick up by completing this course, as well as developing a network that they gain from running a business, puts them in a completely unique position when entering the job market.”

“Having the skills and the knowledge of running your own business stands you in good stead for the future. And even if you decide that self-employment is not for you now, these skills are going to be useful in all walks of life. Self-employment also gives you the opportunity to base yourself where you want to be; rather than moving after jobs.“

What next? If you or somebody you know would like to join the course this summer, please contact Lindsey Birtwhistle at lindsey.birtwhistle@winchester.ac.uk or visit their website www.inspiringenterprisewinchester.co.uk  

Inspiring Enterprise is active in Hampshire and Surrey and funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and the European Social Fund. All support provided is free of charge.  

At our recent Inspiring Enterprise Development Day we asked the teams what their highlights of the project were and here are some of the comments:

“Being told by participants what difference we have made to their lives for the better”

“The joy on someone’s face when they sold their first items”

“My client bursting into tears due to how happy she is with her progress”

“Having a great team to work with”

The question was part of our development day with all the Inspiring Enterprise staff. Our brainstorming generated some interesting ideas and suggestions, which we are currently working up into actions and hope to implement in the New Year!

 

 

The WSX Enterprise-led Inspiring Enterprise programme has attracted additional backing to carry on its life-changing support to unemployed people. The contract was expected to finish in December but due to its high level of success and continuing stream of enquiries, funders have agreed to carry on supporting the project. To date Inspiring Enterprise has helped 500 people in the Hampshire and Surrey area start their own business, find a job or re-train.

Inspiring Enterprise is aimed at people who are unemployed and young people not in education, employment or training, as well as lone parents, older workers, people with disabilities and people in minority groups. Part of the Building Better Opportunities programme, the project offers advice and support through workshops, taster sessions, training and mentoring.

Not-for-profit business support company WSX Enterprise is managing the scheme and is partnered by Action Hampshire, Surrey Community Action, Fredericks Foundation and the University of Winchester.

WSX Enterprise Project Manager, Henriette Reinders, said: “It is great news that we carry on helping unemployed and disadvantaged people into self-employment and social enterprise creation. With our support we have been able to change many people’s lives for the better.
“We have already helped 500 people and the enquiries keep coming in.”
“Our partnership brings skills, expertise and experience to the table helping beneficiaries to achieve business creation or employment opportunities.”

The Inspiring Enterprise website www.inspiringenterprise.org.uk features many cases studies of people who have benefitted from the project’s support.

To be eligible for help through Inspiring Enterprise people must live within the M3 corridor and be currently unemployed.

The M3 corridor runs from the New Forest to the M25 and includes Winchester, Andover, Alton, Farnham, Basingstoke, Farnborough, Camberley, Staines, Woking, Bracknell and everywhere in-between.
Anyone interested in finding out more about Inspiring Enterprise should visit the website www.inspiringenterprise.org.uk or call 0800 140 4537.

Building Better Opportunities
The Big Lottery Fund is the largest funder of community activity in the UK. It puts people in the lead to improve their lives and communities, often through small, local projects.
It is responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised by National Lottery players for good causes. Every year it invests over £650 million and awards around 12,000 grants across the UK for health, education, environment and charitable purposes.
Since June 2004 it has awarded over £9 billion to projects that change the lives of millions of people.
The project has received up to £1.45 million of funding from the Big Lottery Fund and the European Social Fund as part of the 2014-2020 European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme in England.The Department for Work and Pensions is the Managing Authority for the England European Social Fund programme. Established by the European Union, the European Social Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support skills development, employment and job creation, social inclusion and local community regenerations.
For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding.