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Prevista continuously builds on our track record of benefit to the community by uplifting the share of our clients from equality and diversity groups. Prevista has specialist expertise in working with BAME communities, women, young people & disabled entrepreneurs and businesses. Information collected for its CIF assessment 2006 highlighted activity with 5,000+ clients of whom 38% were from BAME groups, 44% were women (rising to 64% within the employee learning subject category) and 12% declared themselves disabled.
Business London: Start Up and Micro Support ProgrammeBusiness London: Start Up and Micro Support Programme is funded by the London Development Agency and the European Social Fund. Prevista leads the consortium delivering the Business London Start Up and Micro Business support programme in south London and is a key partner within the Consortia delivering in north and central London.
Targeted to those aspiring to be self-employed, the Start Up programme offers a range of tailored support including online and face to face support, progressing to seminars and intensive one-to-one business support sessions to help build business expertise, develop a robust business plan, through to support in putting together a suitable funding package.
The Micro Business support programme is suitable for those already running a business but require guidance and support to help the business develop and grow.
As of 10 October 2007 through this programme, Prevista has engaged and supported 500 businesses and 150 individuals, which has contributed to over 45 full-time jobs being created or safeguarded.
Across the three sub-regions, we have an average of 48% of women-majority owned and 62% BAME owned businesses as clients; of our individual clients, 51% are women and 81% are from BAME groups, exceeding contractual targets and demonstrating our capabilities in attracting and engaging ‘hard to reach’ groups.
Islington Business Support Islington Business Support is a London Development Agency (LDA) central London project, co-financed through the European Social Fund (ESF) to improve the business skills of Black Asian Minority Ethnic (BAME) businesses trading in Islington.
Prevista is one of three delivery partners offering a tailored support service to specific business needs. The programme delivering one to one support and seminars also improves the skills and knowledge of BAME Islington entrepreneurial residents to encourage them to create new companies.
The successful performance of the project in 2005/06 in acting as a bridge to mainstream support for participants, helping them to overcome barriers experienced by hard to reach groups, led to Islington Council renewing the project 2006/07. This contract has been further extended in 2007/08, so far we have achieved 100% outputs in the first quarter and Islington Council has doubled our original output in the second quarter to allow further awareness raising activities and seminars making this project a success story.
Creative London North Creative London North (CLN) is a European Regeneration Development Fund (ERDF), Government Office for London (GOL) and LDA North London funded project. CLN is the collective name for two projects “On Your Marks” focussing on start up businesses and “Get Ready” for established business within the creative sector.
CLN is a major programme designed to develop these businesses in the objective 2 postcodes in the boroughs of Enfield, Haringey and Waltham Forest. CLN is establishing a new and inclusive support service, offering bespoke training opportunities and one to one support. The programme aims to inspire and support people navigating though the minefield of starting to work independently and growing businesses successfully.
Prevista, Collage Arts and Enfield Arts Partnership are the three main partners in the project, each offering a complimentary range of services and support. The project objectives are to:
The project commenced in April 2005 and concludes in December 2007 and we are on schedule to reach target.
Start Up and Up & Running ProgrammesBetween 2002 and 2005 Prevista delivered the Start Up and Up and Running programme on behalf of Business Link for London, targeting pre-starts – to help businesses secure start up financing, start-ups – under 18 months old to support their stabilization and orientation in the marketplace, and micro businesses over 18 months old, with a view to guiding exploration of new markets and diversification.
Providing a variety of support the service to targeted businesses offered practical workshops led by experts in the field and one-to-one coaching and mentoring giving access to expert guidance and support during the development or growth stages of clients businesses. Over the lifetime of the project 2565 pre-starts, 1797 start-ups and 521 micro businesses were supported in the London boroughs of Islington, Camden, the City, Waltham Forest, Enfield and Barnet
Specialist Business Gateway to Growth The Specialist Business Gateway to Growth initiative responds to local needs set out in a number of Upper Lea Valley (ULV) area wide and borough based local strategies. The programme is designed for entrepreneurs, SMEs, start-ups and social enterprises to help increase survival rates, foster better linkages between business development and sustainability; develop competitiveness and encourage growth in key sectors.
The offer to local businesses is enhanced through local-based delivery framework enabling access to a full range of generalist and specialist business support services; sub-regional networking and joint marketing opportunities; and 24/7 access to ULV knowledge banks. Services are tailored to the individual needs of high-growth businesses support.
Prevista supported 302 businesses in the project’s 2005/06 duration. Its’ success has meant that the project has been extended till December 2007.
Access to FinanceAccess to Finance is partially funded by the LDA and ERDF. The programme is aimed at getting SMEs finance ready, through mentoring and coaching. Over the past four years we have delivered the programme through a broad partnership pan London. We have worked with Chambers and sub regional bodies, banks and other intermediaries in sourcing finance for SMEs. So far we have helped businesses across London to access over £4m in new funds to support their growth potential. As a result of our success we are currently delivering on a new Access to Finance contract.
GRO2GRO2 was funded via the ERDF with match funding from the LDA. The GRO2 partnership was led by Social Enterprise London and Prevista was one of five delivery partners. The project was the first multi agency business support programme for 500 social enterprises based in particular Objective 2 areas in London.The aims of the project were to:
These aims and objectives were met through a selection of one to one support and seminars. The majority of the beneficiaries were small, almost two thirds employed five or less. Over 55% were BAME owned or managed, 33% were led by women. Less than 5% were owned or managed by disabled people. 50% of the beneficiaries were charities or trading arms of charitable trusts, with 20% being companies limited by guarantee. For the majority of the businesses this was their first experience of business support.
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