Raising awareness and unlocking the entrepreneurial potential of key target groups will enable them to capitalise on their potential and competitive advantages and identify new opportunities for enterprise.
By 2009:
The level of awareness of enterprise and entrepreneurship among young people and the key target groups will be significantly higher and all schools will have been engaged in some form of enterprising or entrepreneurial activity.
By 2016:
There will be significantly more small businesses in target areas as more people are interested in and have the capacity to set up their own business. The proportion of these owned by people from the target groups will be higher than the London average. Enterprise and entrepreneurial activity is a mainstream part of the curriculum in all schools. |
Delivery under this theme will have three main elements:
- Developing the entrepreneurial potential of children and young people
- Developing entrepreneurship among key target groups
- Stimulating and supporting social enterprise in the voluntary and community sector
Developing the entrepreneurial potential of children and young people
The priority groups are, in order:
- 8 to 13 year olds
- Young people not in work or full time employment
- 14-19 year olds who are most at risk or whose needs are greatest
- 14-19 year old under-achievers
The geographical focus will be school clusters in the target areas but there will be activities both in schools and in other settings.
This work will be delivered through two framework agreements commissioned from Croydon’s Education Department. Funding will not be divided up amongst schools.
Developing entrepreneurship among key target groups
This will be delivered via:
- A framework agreement for outreach to certain target groups
- Specific actions to help people overcome health barriers to enterprise
Outreach framework
A framework contract to deliver a range of innovative projects to engage identified target groups and raise their awareness of enterprise and encourage them to consider this as a realistic way to realise their potential.
The target groups will be:
- Young people including those not in education or employment and teenage parents
- Women
- Lone parents
- People with disabilities
- People from BAME communities
- People over 50
The procurement method for this will be open tendering for either a contract or grant. The organisation holding the contract for the framework will be expected to engage with a wide range of other organisations, including sub contracting to them where appropriate.
Overcoming health barriers to enterprise
We will commission a Foundation Building project to investigate the impact of health on entrepreneurship and find ways to reduce its impact. This is likely to be commissioned from Croydon Social Services who already hold most of the information required.
A further project will create opportunities for people with mental health problems to become self-employed freelance trainers. This will be commissioned from South London and Maudsley Mental Health Trust who already a highly specialised service in elsewhere in South London.
Stimulating and supporting social enterprise in the voluntary and community sector
This will offer support specifically to existing voluntary and community organisations considering setting up social enterprises. It is distinct from the generic business advice offered to new and existing social enterprises offered under Delivery Themes 2 and 3.
This is very closely linked to the capital project to make North West Croydon Healthy Resource Centre a centre for social enterprises, providing accommodation and support on site.
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