The Kirklees Enterprise Foundation has been developed in West Yorkshire by the ‘On Course Kirklees’ group, a private-sector-led group which I formed some years ago with the aim of finding mechanisms to transform the skills in Kirklees from average to excellent. The group is a partnership of people from industry, commerce, education, community groups, local government and agencies, working together to make an impact in key areas of the local economy and society.
Creativity and enterprise were identified by the On Course Kirklees group as two key areas where increased activity and improved co-ordination might stimulate a more fertile local environment for business creation and growth. The group analysed the links between enterprise education, skills and business development and explored a number of potential routes which could make the local area a ‘hotspot’ for business generation, particularly in the creative industries sector.
The Kirklees Enterprise Foundation was formed to engage with people at an early stage of the development of their business idea. As such, it provides a complementary ‘front-end’ service to existing business support activities providing a new source of clients to Business Links and Enterprise Agencies, most of whom may otherwise have been unlikely to access their services.
The Foundation’s objectives are:
• To provide access to bespoke practical support from a network of private sector champions (including the use of premises, access to equipment, technical advice);
• To support individuals to set up their own businesses through a programme of bursaries/wage support, training and mentoring;
• Through joint working and referrals, to ensure that individuals receive the best support available from existing business support programmes (public and private); and
• To offer individuals the chance to take part in the ‘Entrepreneur Programme’ – a two-day customised programme of motivation and training.
Potential entrepreneurs are invited to a local ‘dragons’ den’ panel of local business leaders to demonstrate their ideas and entrepreneurial acumen. Those panels are also attended by representatives of Business Link/Enterprise Agencies to ensure the delivery of a seamless service and to maximise the volume of referrals to mainstream services. Those with credible business ideas are invited to attend the ‘Enterprise Programme’ to raise awareness of each entrepreneur’s strengths and weaknesses.
In January 2007, the foundation was established as a company limited by guarantee, and the organisation should achieve charitable status within the year. European social funding (ESF) has been secured to support people living and working in assisted areas of Kirklees and, where appropriate, the foundation can award bursaries to help with start-up costs where support is not available elsewhere in the public or private sectors.
The foundation is a product of a close local working partnership working with a common agenda.  The West Yorkshire Learning and Skills Council have supported the foundation, and, together with local business leaders, a number of other organisations are also playing key roles, including local authority contacts; university and college contacts, especially those providing graduate enterprise advice, and media contacts in local and regional press and radio.
The Kirklees Enterprise Foundation offers a model for a new approach to harness the commitment, enthusiasm and energy of successful local business people which is so often left untapped. It is a dynamic and exciting demonstration of how strong local leadership can forge new relationships, providing opportunities for business creation and growth.