Member Article

North East's most enterprising organisation named

An organisation that has helped 140 people start their own business and guided 250 people back into work has been named the most enterprising in North East England.The Acumen Development Trust has encouraged and supported people to develop business ideas and stimulated an entrepreneurial culture in the deprived area of Horden and Easington Colliery, East Durham. The villages were identified as an area to encourage enterprise in 2001 because of high deprivation levels, low employment, poor health and low skills levels, which meant that just 5 start-ups were launched each year.Acumen was formed and embarked on a strategy to address unemployment, lack of education and enterprise. The strategy has three major strands; ensuring access to services; creating businesses and opportunities for employment; and breaking down the barriers that prevent employment.In its first two and half years, the organisation has helped over 140 people into self-employment, with help from BizFizz, which provides funding to members of the community. Other successes include the movement into work of over 250 people last year - a significant increase as, prior to Acumen, approximately 50 people each year went into work from the two villages. Kate Welch, Chief Executive Acumen Community Enterprise Development Trust, said: “Our success in the Enterprising Britain 2006 competition reflects our achievements encouraging enterprise. The increase in entrepreneurial activity is living proof of the quality, support and encouragement that Acumen Community Enterprise Development Trust provides to the people of Horden and Easington. We’re delighted to have been chosen as the North East regional winner”The Acumen strategy was integrated through the Aim High Network that provides access to high quality information advice and guidance, learning opportunities, job search support and support for enterprise. Aim High delivers its services through community venues branded as Aim High Centres, including community centres, welfare halls, libraries and schools. There are now 15 Aim High Centres in Horden and Easington Colliery, providing the community with outreach work and community activities. Runner-up in this year’s competition was “Life on the Edge”, run by the villages of Gilsland and Greenhead in the heart of Hadrian’s Wall country. Both projects will be presented with awards from One Northeast when the judges of Enterprising Britain visit the region at the end of the month.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .