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Co-operate and Work
Together Project EDS staff currently manage the 'Co-operate and Work Together' project, which assists the formation and development of new and established social enterprises in Preston.
The Co-operate and Work Together project works with the social enterprises which are often established to address specific needs within the local community and include:
They also include community groups who look to trading as a way of becoming sustainable without dependency on grants. These groups often fail to access support from mainstream business support services and much of the work of the Project involves building the confidence and capacity of the groups concerned.
We assisted with the establishment of this community-based financial loan business which offers an alternative solution to what is widely perceived as an unmet need. Preston MoneyLine is a community enterprise which offers financial loans to individuals or organisations that are unable to borrow from traditional sources such as banks and building societies. It is an independent , not-for-profit company whose Board is drawn from all sectors of the local community. It is widely recognised that for many people suffering financial hardship the only option is to borrow from lenders outside the mainstream which often results in very high interest rates. Preston MoneyLine helps people to develop and improve financial management skills and offers individuals an alternative to 'doorstop' lenders through the provision of personal, business and housing loans as well as a range of Sharia Principle loans. Preston Moneyline's manager, Elaine Rimmer said: "The commitment and support received from EDS staff during the lengthy developmental stages of Preston MoneyLine ensured our successful launch in 2005."
SELNET is a network and trade association for potential, new, emerging and established social enterprises in Lancashire. It will achieve this through the provision of a range of services to member organisations in support of their growth and development needs, which, in turn, will contribute to their long term sustainability. EDS (NW) Ltd has played an active role in
the development and establishment of SELNET and is a founder member
of the Network.
The Lancashire Social Enterprise Action Plan In recognition of the uniqueness of this sector together with the contribution it offers to the region’s economy, the NWDA is supporting a programme of activity targeted at emerging and established Social Enterprises in the region to be delivered on a country-wide basis. The NWDA has allocated in excess of £1m for the purpose of encouraging and assisting the growth of Social Enterprises in the North West. Following a series of mapping exercises in 2003, which identified the number and types of social enterprises in the region, their particular characteristics and perceived barriers to their growth, sub-regional Social Enterprise Partnerships have been established to develop a series of actions which address the needs of the sector in each of the respective sub-regions. In Lancashire, the Partnership has been charged with the task of developing a three-year strategy in support of Social Enterprises in Lancashire. As a founder member of the Partnership, Economic Development Services chairs the Board and is instrumental in the implementation of the Action Plan. Other members include representatives from:
The Lancashire Social Enterprises Action Plan has been awarded in excess of £300K by the NWDA, for which Business Link is the accountable body.
Social Enterprise in Lancashire EDS (formerly LCDA) has a history and track record/ experience of delivering services and nurturing social enterprises. Consequently, the team has an intimate insight into development issues faced by organisations in this sector and the challenges of growth and sustainability.
Between 1992 and 2003, our Chief Executive was personally responsible for the preparation of Lancashire County Council’s Economic Development Strategy and the delivery of business support to social enterprises and SMEs through the annual Small Firm and Economic Development Contract, Training Contract and Venture Capital Programme. He was also responsible for interventions designed to nurture social enterprises, community enterprises and co-operatives which were delivered by LCDA. An important aspect of this activity required LCDA to provide ongoing support to these businesses to enable them to become sustainable over time. Case Studies
The Keswick Children & Family Centre
The study included the following elements:
The study culminated in a detailed business plan that explored the financial viability and sustainability of the facility which was submitted to Keswick Area Partnership and Cumbria Surestart for funding.
Training Grants for Social Enterprises Economic Development Services (NW) Ltd has been commissioned by Business Link Lancashire, on behalf of the Lancashire Social Enterprise Action Plan Board, to administer the Training Grants Scheme. Grants of up to a maximum of £2,000 per organisation are made available to Social Enterprises in Lancashire to assist with the costs of staff training and development activities. The training should be tailored to meet the specific needs of the business and cover such skills as leadership, business planning and financial management and forecasting. The training grants are part of a wider Lancashire Social Enterprise Action Plan which has been awarded £375,000 from the North West Development Agency. The Action Plan offers a comprehensive programme of business support activity targeted at growing and strengthening Social Enterprises throughout Lancashire and includes:
The award of a Sustainability Grant, funded through the North West Development Agency and EU Grant funding, resulted in the appointment of EDS (NW) Ltd to undertake a feasibility study to assess the medium to long-term sustainability of the DIY Recycle Shop. The assignment entailed a review of the existing business plan; revisiting original business assumptions; appraising the current market for the products sold by the shop; undertaking an initial assessment of the potential sustainability of the business; consideration of the City Council’s wider regeneration and development plans for the area and making recommendations for a way forward for the DIY Recycle Shop. The study concluded that the shop should merge with the Signpost Community Shop on to a single site, develop new product lines and work in partnership with other similar environmental initiatives and organisations in the area.
Corpus Christi (for Errigal Developments Limited)
The first two stages of the assignment were completed with the launch of an Innovative Work Related Learning Partnership linking Corpus Christi with Enterprise plc and the award of Specialist School Status - Technology and Sport. The final stage of the assignment identified opportunities for the school to benefit from recent changes in the Government’s approach to national education policy. A follow-on assignment is focused on assisting with the implementation of the findings and recommendations.
Liverpool City Council’s Role in Supporting the Social Enterprise Sector
Economic Development Services facilitated a half-day seminar for City Council staff with the responsibility for driving forward the Council’s social economy agenda. This included organising and delivering a seminar for the staff to gain a common understanding of social enterprises, including the role of the City Council in supporting the sector and providing recommendations on the way forward for the City Council. Economic Development Services produced a report to assist in identifying the City Council’s role and priorities for social enterprise support in the future, which has informed their Forward Strategy.
Performing Arts at the Marybone Youth & Community Centre
The long-established Centre is situated in the Marybone area of Liverpool, on the fringe of the city centre, and is seen to be a focal point for the local community operating as a multi-use youth and community resource centre with a childcare facility, office accommodation and an on-site car parking facility. Economic Development Services presented the report which concluded that the Centre should rebrand itself as a city centre venue and also identified opportunities to extend the scope and range of facilities to be provided by the Centre.
The initial funding was obtained from the Urban Programme and Childsplay became a community enterprise limited by guarantee and a registered charity. EDS has provided Childsplay with a range of business support services and assistance with applications for funding. Childsplay has responded to meet the growing needs of local children and their families, providing permanent childcare places from several venues as well as mobile creche facilities. This enterprise, which has a volunteer management committee, charges modest amounts to supplement grant income.
The Environappies Nappy Laundering Service supplies easy-to-use cotton nappies which are professionally laundered and re-used through the provision of a door to door collection and delivery service. Successful sourcing of funding has allowed Environappies the opportunity to establish itself as a real 'alternative' and, in turn, build a strong customer base which includes nurseries and hospitals as well individuals. The company also draws on the expertise of local organisations and individuals who are represented on its Board. We have assisted Environappies in a variety of ways, including funding applications, research and marketing. This has been provided as part of the 'Cooperate and Work Together' project delivered on behalf of Preston City Council. This initiative targets assistance at new and established businesses with strong social objectives. Avril McGarvey is the manager of Environappies. She says: "EDS couldn't have done more to help. The information that the company gave me has been really useful in taking our business forward. It has been hard to pull together all the facets of this type of business but, now we are seeing it all come together. We are getting huge interest in our services from both private individuals and the childcare organisations including the NHS. This is very encouraging for job creation. Of course, environmental concerns are at the top of many people's agenda, but this service also provides real savings when compared with disposable nappies, so everyone wins!"
Dreams Come True (DCT) Limited
The success of this project was overwhelming and it was decided to establish a community business which would be driven by an over-riding commitment to the young people of the area, providing activities which would really make a difference. EDS was approached to provide assistance through the 'Cooperate and Work Together' initiative, which supports new and existing social enterprises in Preston and is funded by the City Council, the European Commission (ERDF) and the UK Government (SRB). Economic Development Services helped Dreams Come True to:
Following an award of Big Lottery funding the Company has been able to appoint staff and continue to benefit young people and work in partnership with other organisations in Preston. Project co-ordinator, Danny Walsh said: "The support received from EDS during the early stages of our Lottery Bid has proven to be vital to the success of the bid and the formation of the Company."
Inprint’s goal is to help people progress towards employment. The company ethos is very much “people before profit”. Nevertheless, it has established itself as a credible service provider and has developed a niche market, undertaking contracts for clients that require relatively small quantities - e.g. 100 leaflet print-runs. Services include producing business and personal stationery, leaflets, magazines, carbonless forms, raffle tickets, invitations, photocopying, laminating, shrink-wrapping, assembly and collation, labelling, mail shots, design and typesetting. EDS was asked to review the business in order to identify how its services might maximise opportunities for service users. Through the project, a "Focus on the Future" survey was conducted. This concluded that there was a direct correlation between trading activities and the range of training opportunities available to those undertaking the work. Therefore, by adopting a more innovative approach and increasing the level of work - and, in turn, income - the range of training opportunities would increase. The report made recommendations for implementing these changes. Inprint is in the process of finding new premises, buying new equipment and reallocating staff in order to ensure best use with maximum service user involvement.
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Funded
through ERDF, SRB (via AvenCentral Regeneration Partnership) and
Preston City Council, the Co-operate and Work Together project assists
new and existing social enterprises in the Preston area through
the provision of a broad range of services such as health checks,
business information and advice on a range of issues from start
up to funding, marketing and diversification to networking with
other agencies and community outreach work.
EDS
was responsible for the development and delivery of Preston Community
Reinvestment Fund (CRIF). The final stage of this project saw the
launch of an independent company, Preston MoneyLine, in 2004.
We
have several years' experience of preparing and delivering business
support strategies on behalf of public sector clients.
Economic
Development Services, working in partnership with Atkins and Faithful
and Gould, undertook an independent study to consider the development
of a fit for purpose facility - a Children & Family Centre -
that would provide a range of childcare activities and support to
families living in the Keswick Market Town Initiative area. 
Signposts,
a multi-agency resource centre, established a DIY Recycle Shop in
Morecambe. The intention was that the shop would be a social enterprise,
offering affordable DIY goods and training to the people of the
West End of Morecambe and encouraging community involvement and
pride in the area. This in turn would assist with the stimulation
of the local economy, generate community cohesion and create local
employment opportunities. 
Economic
Development Services was commissioned by a local businessman to
provide funding advice and assistance to the head teacher and management
team of his former school, Corpus Christi Catholic High School,
Preston. The assignment focused on three specific activities:
EDS
(NW) Ltd was commissioned by the Regeneration Directorate of Liverpool
City Council to provide an independent and objective input into
the review of the role of the City Council in the provision of support
to social enterprises.
EDS
(NW) Ltd was commissioned through a Guide Neighbourhood Programme
Investment Grant, managed by the Eldonian Group, to undertake an
independent study into the feasibility of establishing a performing
arts base at the Marybone Youth & Community Centre, Liverpool.
In
1992,a group of professional people recognised a need for affordable,
flexible childcare within the Brookfield and Ribbleton areas of
Preston.
Environappies
is a social enterprise which provides fresh laundered nappies to
parents and organisations in West Lancashire and the Fylde. The
use of this service can have a huge impact in terms of reducing
the amount of waste going into landfill sites which in turn offers
real environmental benefits.
In
2004 One Voice and Brookfield Spaceplace set up a project to find
out what young people wanted to happen in East Preston and how they
saw the area, now and in the future. Staff at Dreams Come True used
a range of fun activities to encourage participation by young people
such as football coaching, fishing, DJ workshops and musical events.
Inprint
is a lithographic printing company run by the Lancashire branch
of the Brothers of Charity, and has been based at Fylde Road in
Preston since 1990. Its role is to provide work-based training and
experience to people with learning disabilities. 
5 Hardy Close, Nelson Court Business Centre, Riversway, Preston
PR2 2XP
Tel.
01772 735441Fax.
01772 735433
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