MENTA Launches £100,000 Support Initiative for Haverhill People

Menta, the Suffolk Enterprise Agency, has launched a major new initiative to help the people of Haverhill, Suffolk.

The 18 month programme, worth over £100,000, will help residents develop an entrepreneurial approach to improving their economic lives, by helping them to think about starting a business and take control of their future. 

Supported by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA), it will be FREE to all participants.

The work is part of the National Enterprise Coaching scheme and is tailored to support those who would not normally be able, or inclined, to access mainstream business start-up support and are currently not working . The two main aims are:

• To help these people assess their own abilities and motivations, so that they can decide if running a business is right for them or not;

• Then, based on the decision they have reached, introduce them to appropriate sources of free help and training to help them act on their decision.

Key to the way the programme will be run is its proactive nature; rather than waiting for people to approach them, Menta will be actively reaching out into the communities of Haverhill to explain what is available.

The first Community Champion has already been appointed - Chrissy Proctor, a Haverhill mother of two, who has experience of running businesses locally.  Her job will be to explain directly to appropriate community groups just how the programme could help them.

Menta has been providing focused business support in Suffolk for 26 years, and the European Social Fund, which is funding the project, chose Menta from over 20 other applicants to run this project.

Rosanne Kilbourn, the Project Manager, says: "When we heard that EEDA was looking to fund a Pilot Scheme like this through the European Social Fund, we were determined to win the work for the people of Haverhill.  They have had a tough time recently, with many lay-offs and redundancies, and we felt that we could give these people another option to consider.  Most people don't realise just how much ability they have, and how valuable they could be - we hope to give some of them a chance to find out.

We believe firmly that as well as the direct advice, training and referrals we will give, one of the by-products of the project will be an increased sense of self-confidence in all the participants, whichever route they decide to follow.  If self employment doesn't turn out to be right for them, the skills they will have learnt with us should help them to find work or a route to further qualifications, and help them get to where they want to be."

Alison Webster, Executive Director of enterprise and skills at EEDA, says: "Providing local people with the skills and aspirations they need to start-up business is really important to get our economy moving again. That's why EEDA is backing this pilot project, and why we have levered-in some important funding from the European Social Fund."