EnterprisingYou gives Greater Manchester 3,000 good reasons to smile
20.09.2023 - 14:39
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
There are 3,000-plus reasons to celebrate the success of a scheme that’s nurtured the talents of Greater Manchester’s self employed workforce.
Small businesses, start-up owners, and those in the gig economy have all accessed EnterprisingYou, the Government-funded project that’s offered free support, education and advice to those “going it alone” over the past three years.
EnterprisingYou, part of wider support delivered by GC Business Growth Hub, has proved to be a great success: more than 3,000 participants have taken part in the programme, adding more than £13.6m in business revenue to self-employed workers across the region. For many, the one-to-one business support, personal financial advice, personal development courses, employment support (and more) have been invaluable.
The project has also seen a 13% reduction in the value of benefits claimed by programme participants, saving over £700,314 to the public purse in total.
Yvonne Sampson, Head of Enterprise at GC Business Growth Hub said: “EnterprisingYou has had even more of an impact than we expected. The variety of participants on the programme speaks to the wealth of talent and potential we have in Greater Manchester.
“I was proud to attend our celebration event last month where our amazing alumni came together to celebrate their successes. Along with partners from Greater Manchester local authorities, universities and those who helped deliver the programme”
There, too, were some of the alumni, including one of the speakers, Wigan's Lucy Wilkinson. A professional clown and founder of children’s entertainment company, Louby Lou Limited, Lucy has been entertaining kids for the last 25 years. It’s a job she loves - and believes being a part of EnterprisingYou has