Sharing the Success Services

Camberwell is managing catalyst centres at Hillside in Beeston and Shine in Harehills. It is also providing enterprise support to residents in East Leeds. The catalyst centres provide a physical space for new entrepreneurs enbling them to network with each other, share knowledge and inter-trade with each other. They form part of a larger centre which houses other facilities for the residents and businesses e.g. meeting or conference rooms, office space, cafes, crèches and gym.

myCatalyst® is an online and physical community of entrepreneurs. myCatalyst® centres provide affordable, pay as you go, flexible workspace and monthly networking events for individuals and companies to come together and interact. It is part of the local enterprise growth initiative (LEGI) and has over 70 business partners. The aim is to connect you with the right people and services you need to grow and strengthen your business.

Hillside provides meeting and conference space for business and the community, work space units to let as well as a café/restaurant.

Tiger11 is an enterprising community organisation set up to create community benefits for the people of Leeds LS11. They are an Industrial & Provident Society and are building a wide shareholding base amongst local people. They plan to re-invest their surpluses in the local community through the creation of new social enterprises.

Leeds City Credit Union has set up a £200k loan fund to provide access to finance exclusively for start up businesses in disadvantaged areas. Loans up to £5,000 are offered at lower rates for individuals unable to access finance through traditional sources like banks etc.

Residents of the LEGI target areas typically have to use non-traditional methods to access finance which can result in unaffordable interest rates being charged, typically over 300%. The credit union aims to provide 90 loans throughout the lifetime of the project.

If you are thinking about starting a business on this page you will find a helpful checklist as well as a business plan and cash flow template.

Business advisers will provide practical assistance to residents in our target areas thinking about starting a business. This will be intensive, hands-on support rather than signposting. They will also work with the self-employed and start-up business to offer assistance with business survival and growth issues.

You can download a checklist of your first steps as well as a business plan and cashflow template from this page.  

This project is part-funded by the regional European Regional Development Fund programme that is investing over £500m to increase employment and enterprise by 2013. 

Enterprise coaches meet and spend time with those thinking about starting a business before handing them over to the business support offered by Sharing the Success. They will help the client set up their business getting involved and offering guidance as necessary.

Enterprise coaches also establish and maintain relationships with individuals, families, voluntary/community groups within ERDF areas within Leeds. This project is part-funded by the regional European Regional Development Fund programme that is investing over £500m to increase employment and enterprise by 2013.

 
Enterprise Rehearsal is a programme that assists residents to think/become more entrepreneurial and see self-employment as a possible route out of welfare dependency. It gives the opportunity to try out a business idea in a secure environment without losing benefits.

The structure of the programme is split into three stages: stage 1 - one to one business support combined with three workshops, stage 2: development of a business plan, 3: test-trading.

The programme is for individuals who are unemployed, in receipt of benefits and who do not fall into the eligibility for New Deal.

Most people are aware of enterprise, they see it everyday; however they fail to make the connection between enterprise and themselves. Winning Moves with Leeds Chamber will help people make that connection and raise their enterprise awareness through the creation and promotion of ‘Champions’ or role models  from local communities who they can connect and identify with. Champions will be embedded in everything we do.

Once you have generated an aspiration Winning Moves will work with you through a series of workshops aimed at developing confidence and belief, and help manage your transition to other support available.

Look out for their workshops in our event section.