Forward Enterprise Services and Global Entrepreneurship Week 2023
The campaign began in 2008 with an emphasis on inspiring young people to make their mark and has quickly grown to become a comprehensive effort that engages entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, researchers, support organizations and others collaborating to advance economic growth and innovation in more than 180+ countries around the world.
The opportunity to work for yourself is key to reducing poverty and empowering people to leave offending and addiction behind. Through Forward Enterprise Services we help clients to unleash their entrepreneurial talents and shape their own futures.
The Forward Trust works with some of society’s most disadvantaged and marginalised people, including prisoners, ex-offenders, people in recovery from addiction, and people who are not in education, employment or training. They feel trapped by their past, are desperate to move forward and claim a more stable and fulfilled future.
Entrepreneurship is booming, with one company being formed every minute in the UK (GOV.UK, 2019). Yet only 89% of UK start-ups survive their first year (ONS, 2019). Many of our clients also have to navigate additional complex challenges and specific barriers as budding entrepreneurs – the right support to do so is vital.
Our work at Forward Enterprise Services
Enterprise Services is one of our employment service pathways, which provides vital business start-up and development support for people experiencing disadvantage. Our intensive blend of in person, remote and online support is flexibly provided by our team of professional coaches and volunteer mentors. This offer is strengthened by additional long-term support provided by Forward Trust and its networks. Entrepreneurs benefit from the business insights of a range of volunteer mentors and partners that include self-employment and business tax specialists, social media and e-commerce specialists, venture capitalists and mental health support providers.
Entrepreneurs access a range of support, including information and guidance for starting up, help with grant applications, workshops with our corporate partners, Forward Enterprise Micro-Grants (subject to funding), informal and accredited Enterprise Training, and resources such as business plan templates, webinars and more.
In addition to this, all entrepreneurs have access to our national in person and online peer-to-peer support network, Forward Connect, that provides inspiration and direction to people seeking to make changes. Enterprise’s growing community also benefits from access to Fuse Universal, which is Forward’s online peer-to-peer business support platform and resource hub. Enterprise Club provides specialist advice, opportunity for professional peer-to-peer networking and promotion of services, and quarterly in person events.
Early analysis shows that Enterprise Services are more likely to be accessed by entrepreneurs who are experiencing disadvantage than other mainstream business start-up and development services. Added to that, initial figures show that over 89% of those who engage with our long-term support remain in business after their first year.
Videos to support GEW2023
Interview with Sid Singh
Interview with Cally Ellison
Interview with Sophie Duncan