Lyes Charallah had been interested in music and sound recording since he was a young teenager, but it was only when he found out about the Chamber’s Enterprise Rehearsal Scheme that he was able to turn his dream into reality.
Enterprise Rehearsal is a programme that assists Leeds residents to think in a more entrepreneurial way and to see self-employment as a possible route out of welfare dependency. Most importantly, it gives these residents the opportunity to try out a business idea in a secure environment without losing their benefits. It is funded by Sharing the Success, the Leeds Local Enterprise Growth Initiative, and managed by Leeds Chamber of Commerce.
“I’ve always been interested in music and recording,” said Lyes. “My studio specialises in vocals and session instruments, and I’m also producing sound and doing location recording for videos, as well as providing a post-production service.”
And Lyes already has some considerable success under his belt. Whilst on the Enterprise Rehearsal programme he teamed up with Fresh Cut Films and as a result has been busily involved in making corporate videos for such clients as NPower and Regent Inns plc, which includes the Walkabout and Jongleurs bars in their portfolio.
What makes Lyes’s achievements even more remarkable is that he is self-taught, although he admits he sometimes asked his brother for technical help. “If I got stuck with something, I would ask my brother. He’s studied music technology so he was a great help,” explained Lyes.
Lyes is now also involved with Roach Productions as an assistant producer, and is currently finishing the editing of a documentary which he anticipates pitching to a number of mainstream broadcasting channels.
Katherine Mills manages Enterprise Rehearsal for Leeds Chamber. She said: “The programme targets unemployed individuals who are not eligible for New Deal but are reluctant to lose their benefits, especially when they are unsure about an idea or not fully confident that their idea will be a success.
“After they are referred to us from Job Centre Plus, we have an initial meeting to discuss the viability of their idea, draw up an Action Plan and complete three workshops. Stage Two involves a series of meetings where we put together the Business Plan and establish the financial aspects, and Stage Three is a 26 week period of test trading, where clients can still receive their benefits whilst ironing out any business problems and indeed, in the case of Lyes, finding out just how successful they can be! After that 26 week period, they go it alone.”
Balbir Sembhi, business adviser for Sharing the Success added: “It’s been a real pleasure to see Lyes do so well on this innovative programme. He’s worked extremely hard and his success is rightly deserved. There’s a great deal of entrepreneurial spirit in Leeds; this programme taps into it and helps those entrepreneurs on their way.”
For information on the Enterprise Rehearsal project contact Katherine Mills on 0113 247 0000, or email katherine.mills@leedschamber.co.uk