Listening to speakers at the launch

As the first phase of the Outset Plymouth and Outset Finance Plymouth projects draw to a close, we are delighted to announce that a further £840,000 of joint funding has been awarded by the European Regional Development Fund and Plymouth City Council to safeguard both provisions until March 2015.

In the last three years, Outset Plymouth has helped 162 people to start their own businesses, leading to the creation of 199 new jobs within the city, while Outset Finance has helped unlock over £850,000 of funding for Plymouth businesses.

Both teams have also been successful in local partnership working, with many referrals coming from successful collaboration with existing provision such as fellow Urban Enterprise programme partners Working Links.

Lee Hughes, YTKO’s Director of Enterprise said: “Our record for delivering strong return on investment to our funders and making a real difference to our clients has resulted in the renewal of the Outset Plymouth contracts. We will continue to work within these communities, to help identify and support new entrepreneurs and tailor our programmes to suit their different needs.”

Outset advisor Gregg Harding prepares to be interviewed.

The programme reaches out to people within the local area from a wide variety of backgrounds, helping them to give themselves a job. Businesses launched through the programme range from graphic designers to research professionals, from architects to innovative sports development programmes.

One such business was Ghostly Publishing, started by local first-time entrepreneur Neil Trigger. After receiving guidance on his business and help to find and secure funding to the tune of £7500, Neil has seen his business grow to house 19 authors and illustrators. Ghostly Publishing’s books are now distributed through major retailers Waterstones and Amazon.

Neil says of his experiences on the Outset programme: “The courses are fantastic and have helped me greatly. Outset Plymouth is a tremendous force for good in Ghostly Publishing’s history.”

The programme has also announced a rebrand to coincide with the contract renewal.

Kate McEwen, Outset’s Head of Operations for the South West, explained: “The renewal of the contract gave us the opportunity to continue and grow our programme alongside the ever-growing businesses that we serve. The new branding represents our goal to develop the project while also continuing to deliver award-winning programmes and provide an excellent service to the people of Plymouth.”

A new partnership between YTKO’s award-winning Outset programme and Fredericks Foundation will help ambitious new entrepreneurs prepare for and access finance successfully. Using their joint skills and expertise, they will help start-ups and existing businesses unlock their potential to make a real and valuable contribution to economic recovery in the UK.

 The Outset service supports disadvantaged and under-represented clients in inner cities, coastal, rural and other deprived communities, to explore, start and grow sustainable businesses. Fredericks Foundation was established to provide small loans and mentoring for disadvantaged people who want to start their own businesses as a route, sometimes the only one available, to financial independence.

 With services that include pre-start, start-up, investment readiness, post-start sustainability and growth support, through training, one-to-one coaching, mentoring and peer communities, it is easy to see how Outset seamlessly integrates with Fredericks Foundation’s ability to provide clients with finance, mentoring and ongoing development.A recent example of this synergy in action is joint clients Joe Wadge and Becca Speare. Both under 25 years old and keen to be new entrepreneurs, Joe and Becca were left devastated after being told they would receive £21,500 funding to set up their business, but then being turned down by their bank. According to Becca, this decision held starting their business back by 6 months. Looking for a way to overcome their barriers and achieve their dream of running a restaurant, they joined the Outset programme in 2012. “A combination of having a strong belief in the welfare of animals and a huge passion for food, we really wanted to start our own business and open a restaurant of our own.” Becca said.

The pair were assigned to a specialist Outset financial advisor who helped them create a more robust business plan and a strong financial proposition, making them investment ready. Joe and Becca were then referred to Fredericks Foundation and others for funding. Their pitches were so successful that they were able to raise £15,500 towards their venture – finally they could realise their entrepreneurial potential!

Fredericks Client Manager Annie Popham said: “It was clear that Joe and Becca had prepared thoroughly for their funding pitch through the help of the Outset team’s investment readiness process. As a result, all the questions asked by our Lending Hub panel were answered clearly and knowledgeably, so it was an easy decision for us to offer them finance.”

As a result of the partnership between Outset and Fredericks, Joe and Becca have just launched the Samphire Brasserie, a vegetarian restaurant in the heart of Plymouth. They have also already taken on two more members of staff.

Becca said: “The workshops and coaching gave us the support and confidence we needed to believe in our idea. We truly don’t believe our dream would have become a reality if it wasn’t for Outset and Fredericks Foundation”.

 In the last three years alone, Outset and sister-operation Outset Finance have helped to create more than £2.3m GVA, unlocking more than £1.2m of business finance – and saving more than £1.2m on unemployment benefits.

 “Together, Outset and Fredericks Foundation bridge a critical barrier for both new and established businesses” says YTKO’s Director of Enterprise, Lee Hughes.

 “It is very easy to criticise the banks, for what are often perceived as unfriendly, zero-risk policies on SME lending. But they are not completely at fault, as start-ups and young businesses often lack the experience to de-risk their plans or demonstrate robust investment-readiness. That’s off-putting for any lender or investor.”

 From Community Development Finance (CDFIs) and Regional Growth Funds, through mainstream banking to private equity and other alternative sources of capital, reducing risk and demonstrating sustainability is a vital component of investment-readiness – and woven into the philosophies that both Outset and Fredericks share.

 With the combined skills, credentials and resources to access a broad range of funding and develop investment-readiness among start-ups and expanding businesses alike, Outset and Fredericks’ new partnership delivers a proven and scalable model, with evidence that spans a decade and easily outstrips the national average. This increases the return on investment in a job creation or business support service for LEPs, local authorities, DWP, BIS and other government departments.

 “Identifying and supporting businesses with the ambition and potential to create sustain growth is built into what Outset and Fredericks do every day,” concludes Lee.

 “This partnership is exciting because it inspires confidence on every level. By working together, Outset and Fredericks Foundation open a powerful channel to private sector growth in the UK.”

Swindon Borough Council has commissioned leading business and economic development company YTKO to deliver its award-winning Outset business start-up support in the town.

The new service has been made possible thanks to a successful bid by YTKO, supported by Swindon Borough Council and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), to support the creation of new businesses and new jobs in Swindon over the next two years.

Outset was chosen, says Cllr Garry Perkins, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Culture, to help drive positive change and transformation for Swindon, which has continued to expand over the last decade, despite a prevailing downward trend in employment.

“Swindon’s private and public sector partners, like the rest of the UK, are facing up to the challenges of recession and constraints on funding,” he said, “Creating new jobs, developing the skills of our residents and ensuring that many more young people are working in Swindon is an absolute priority.

“Outset Swindon is part of a collaborative strategy for growth and a more prosperous outlook for people who are unemployed but want to live and work here.”

Outset Swindon will provide a flexible, community-based range of services for anyone interested in exploring enterprise to start their own business. Starting in mid-March, Outset Swindon will include workshops, one-to-one sessions, mentoring, events and learning that unravels the crucial aspects of starting and growing a business, from developing a business idea and starting to trade, to marketing for and managing growth, and how to make a business investment-ready, to secure finance for further product and business development.

After winning the UK’s BIS Enterprising Britain Award for Promoting Enterprise last year, YTKO’s Outset business start-up support programme beat nominations from 30 countries to win the European Commission’s European Enterprise Promotion Awards’ highest accolade for promoting sustainable enterprise in Europe.

In the last three years alone, Outset has worked with more than 8,900 clients in inner cities, coastal, rural and other deprived communities across the UK, to help create more than 1,500 new businesses and over 1,700 new jobs.

After just three years of service, Outset has now reached the fantastic milestone of creating over 1,500 new jobs around the country through its innovative programmes.

With its unique blend of pre and post start-up support workshops, mentoring, coaching, access to finance and e-learning, Outset’s delivery teams around the UK have now engaged a total of 8,907 people, creating 1,407 businesses and 1,590 jobs.

Speaking last week, Lee Hughes, Head of Enterprise, YTKO said:

“I am delighted that Outset has achieved its latest milestone of 1,500, helping people move past their perceived boundaries to enterprise and allowing them to start successful, sustainable businesses. We look forward to seeing the same success in the next three years and will continue to deliver our first class business start-up support.”

The programme has been refined over a decade, incorporating acknowledged best practice that can be easily adapted for any audience, anywhere. Our main focus is providing services for those facing the biggest barriers to enterprise, including long-term unemployed, under 25’s, BME groups, people with physical or mental disabilities and those at risk of redundancy.

For more information about the programme, contact Lee Hughes on 01223 421470.

On a chilly day last December, a film crew from Euronews, Europe’s most watched international news channel, visited Bristol to find out more about YTKO’s award-winning Outset start-up programme – and why it’s getting such great results in the UK. Click on the image to watch the clip.

As the engine of Europe’s economy, small and medium sized companies account for 80 per cent of the jobs created in Europe over the past five years. But for under-represented groups among Europe’s entrepreneurs, who include the long-term unemployed, women, ethnic minorities and the over 50s, overcoming some of the challenges to building a sustainable business can be a tough hill to climb without practical, robust support.

Filming for Business Planet, Euronews’ dedicated channel for Europe’s SMEs, YTKO CEO Bev Hurley, Mayor of Bristol George Ferguson and Outset business owner Michael Bennett  share their experience and insights.

YTKO’s Outset programme is expanding in the UK. As an acclaimed and proven model that has supported the creation of more than 1,300 new businesses and over 1,500 jobs to date, it could be working for would-be entrepreneurs elsewhere in Europe too.

To find out how Outset could be making a difference where you live, please email our Director of Enterprise, Lee Hughes.

Stacey Pike, Liam Boote, Julie White and Dan Fisher

YTKO are delighted to announce a new two year contract to deliver their award winning Outset programme to Huntingdonshire.

Outset Huntingdonshire will support individuals to start their own businesses through their flexible range of options including pre and post start-up support workshops, one-to-one sessions and e-learning.

In selecting a deliverer, Huntingdonshire County Council sought a provision that would reach out across a largely rural area; engaging people on the fringes and giving them access to the same high level of service expected in town centre areas.

Outset was chosen for its impressive track record in outreach work. The programme recently won both the UK’s national BIS Enterprising Britain Award for Promoting Enterprise as well as the Grand Jury Prize for inspiring entrepreneurialism at the 6th European Enterprise Promotion Awards (EEPA).

Jason Ablewhite, Executive Leader of Huntingdonshire District Council said: “Huntingdonshire has a well-established tradition of entrepreneurialism amongst its residents and in choosing YTKO to provide their Outset start-up support programme , we have a European recognised enterprise provider well versed in engaging all sectors of society.  Self-employment, coupled with advice and support, offers a real option for many people and we believe this programme will arm them with the information, knowledge, tools and, most importantly, confidence to take that first step.”

A key element of the project will be to get local providers working together in partnership for the benefit of the clients.

Lee Hughes, Director of Enterprise for YTKO commented “YTKO have a proven record of integrated partnership working – with a range of business support services. We strongly believe that collaboration and building partner relationships is vital to our work – our ethos is to work within the current infrastructure to complement and enhance existing services.”

The programme will officially begin in January however a small waiting list of clients has already been seen and several meetings with key strategic stakeholders have taken place to begin building those all-important local relationships.

Over its two year period, Outset Huntingdonshire will deliver 60 workshops, 450 one-to ones and create a total of 75 sustainable new businesses.

Since 2009, Outset has helped over 7,000 clients across the UK explore enterprise as an option. As a result more than 1,251 sustainable new businesses have been started, creating a total of 1,435 new jobs.

If you would like to find out more about how an Outset programme could benefit your local area please call Lee Hughes on 01223 421470 or email lee.hughes@ytko.com.

Outset Wessex is celebrating having helped more than 410 people to start their own new businesses in Dorset, Wiltshire and Somerset (excl. BaNES) through the New Enterprise Allowance (NEA) government scheme.

Following a recent government announcement, the scheme, which began delivery in Wessex in September 2011, has been extended until the end of 2013 and is now available to anyone who has started to claim Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA). Previously, clients needed to be in receipt of JSA for at least six months. These changes will allow the Outset Wessex service to continue creating more new businesses over the coming year, as access to the NEA scheme is widened.

Read about one of the programme’s many success stories, Fasiel Ghazghazi, and his business, Future-Fiziques (pictured above).

For more information on Outset provision of the NEA scheme please contact Lee Hughes on 01223 421470 or email lee.hughes@ytko.com.

Charlie’s Angels

With a burning ambition to create a better life for herself and her daughter, Charlotte Parker decided to kick unemployment into touch. After four years of trying to find a suitable job, and studying at every opportunity to gain new skills, Camborne-based Charlotte decided to take a step into the unknown and work for herself.

Future Fiziques

Many of the people who complete the Outset NEA programme have experienced challenges on the road to starting their own business. For Faisel Ghazghazi, the prospect of finding a job with a criminal record proved especially difficult.

Lets make Cupcakes

One of the hardest decisions our clients initially face is choosing the focus of their new business. We work with our clients to draw from their own experience and explore their existing skill sets such as cooking, cleaning, arts and crafts as well as any other previous professional experience they might have.