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£2.2 million to support under represented entrepreneurs start
business
13 July 2009
A £2.2 million project is being launched to support new
entrepreneurs in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. More than £2m
ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) Convergence investment
has been approved for the project, with the remainder coming from
the South West RDA (Regional Development Agency).
It is part of an ambitious package of investments totalling £25
million that are aimed at supporting business growth in Cornwall
and the Isles of Scilly.
YTKO, the UK economic and business development consultancy, has
been appointed to deliver the intensive business start-up support.
It will be aimed at under-represented groups in Cornwall and the
Isles of Scilly. Women, minority ethnic and disabled people are
some of the groups under-represented in enterprise across the UK.
With the right support, many can be helped into creating strong and
successful businesses.
Bev Hurley, YTKO's Chief Executive, said: "We're delighted that
our record in delivering a strong return on investment to our
funders, and making a real difference to our clients, has resulted
in this new project. We work with a huge variety of new
entrepreneurs, from high growth to multiply disadvantaged, and
tailor all our programmes to suit their different needs and
challenges."
Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Convergence Partnership Office
for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: "This is one of a
series of ERDF Convergence investments offering additional business
support to accelerate the growth of business activity in our
economy. It will help remove barriers presented to some people as
they endeavour to start, run and expand successful businesses."
Stephen Bohane, Head of Business Development for the South West
RDA in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: "It's vital that we
invest to unlock business potential and identify, support and
develop our entrepreneurs and wealth-creators of tomorrow. This
very focused support will ensure that we capture and nurture that
entrepreneurial spirit."
Toni Eyriey, of Business Cornwall, was on the independent
selection team that chose YTKO. She said: "YTKO impressed me with
their track record and their determination to make a real
difference to aspiring businesses. Going forward, I am confident
that Cornwall will reap the fruits of their labour."
YTKO's programme team, based in Truro, will be working closely
with Business Link, the School for Social Entrepreneurs, and a
number of other local organisations, and running informal
enterprise taster events around the county. Those who want to
progress further can then attend a specialist, flexible training
programme covering all the key personal and business skills needed
for a successful business.
Eileen Lennon, head of YTKO's Enterprise Inclusion Team, said
"Inspiring, motivating and unlocking the potential of
under-represented groups to start-up successful new businesses
generates real returns for local and regional economies, and
financial independence for the individual."
YTKO's success in leading the Enterprising Women project, which
helped the creation of over 250 sustainable new businesses and jobs
in the East of England in an 18 month period, was one of the key
success factors in securing the new contract. Enterprising Women
was recently selected by BIS as one of three best practice UK
projects to be showcased at the European Charter Conference in
Stockholm in October.
A strong track record is reinforced by the experience of its
enterprise team in successfully engaging and supporting new
entrepreneurs from all walks of life, and a unique start-up
programme that focuses on ensuring the sustainability of new
businesses.
YTKO is headquartered in Cambridge. It is Customer First
accredited, and the holder of the Prowess Flagship Awards across
all its services.
Ends
For more information contact:
Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager
Convergence Partnership Office for Cornwall and the Isles of
Scilly.
Tel: 01872 241379 / 07973 813647
E mail: cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk
Eileen Lennon, YTKO Head of Enterprise Inclusion Team
Tel: 01223 421470.
Email: Eileen.lennon@ytko.com
Website: www.ytko.com
Jason Clark
South West RDA PR.
Tel: 01208 77900 / 07980 834368
Email: jason@dca-pr.co.uk
Editors' notes.
- For further information see: www.convergencecornwall.com
- Convergence helpline telephone: 0800 0280120.
- In Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly the Convergence programmes
are made up of European Regional Development Fund c(£347 million)
and European Social Fund (c£153 million) Convergence Programmes
will run until 2013 and follow the successful Objective One
Programme and prior to that Objective 5b.
Contact Details
Name: Jason Clark
Tel: 01208 77900 / 07980 834368
Email: jason@dca-pr.co.uk
Third Party Issuer
YKTO ISUS