ENTERPRISE INNOVATION
EIGHTEEN YEARS OF ENTERPRISE INNOVATION
Enterprise Island has only ever specialised in enterprise , entrepreneurship and regeneration. The aim - which has not changed - was always to integrate research, design and delivery. As a result we have built up a unique expertise, and database, over eighteen years.
The majority of our projects have been action research based, meaning that our range of methodologies have not only been tested but also developed over the years.
Because we only ever support enterprise and entrepreneurship we have been able to be highly innovative and many of our clients, Regional Development Agencies and Urban Regeneration Companies as well as local authorities, value our in depth, practical expertise.
Good examples of this - and an indication of the diversity of our enterprise work - can be seen in the following highlighted projects.
Engaging the Unmotivated
Part of the Scottish Enterprise Business Birthrate Inquiry, this looked at ways of engaging people who could start businesses but were not motivated to do so.
Local Enterprise Growth
We were engaged by Bradford Metropolitan Council to run a programme prior to their bid for LEGI funding. They subsequently won £21million pounds, engaged with over 70% of people who had never thought of starting a business before, and produced a high growth business which won the Enterprising Britain Award in 2007.
Enterprising Schools
This was a groundbreaking piece of action research for Tynedale Council DFES and the Countryside Agency which involved researching, designing and delivering a sustainable enterprise programme for four schools in the Tynedale - prior to national activity.
Creating Higher Growth Businesses
Our first piece of work from the late nineties was actually actually split into two; designing a high growth enterprise and business start up programme in the wake of massive closures in Lanarkshire and working with exisiting businesses to help them break through obstacles to growth. Our expertise in this area has continued to grow culminating recently in a major of piece of activity for One North East RDA on Organisational Captives.
Enterprising Communities
We have undertaken a considerable range of work here from detailed activity in Dundee on disadvantaged communities via a review of Enterprise Facilitation and Enterprise Coaching. We also created a Handbook for Enterprising Communities for the Countryside Agency as well as a set of films.
Social Enterprise
We highlighted the role of the social entrepreneur as far back as 2001 and have continued to develop programmes for this sector since then. In particular we have created sets of learning materials and activities which are now used by the School for Social Entrepreneurs.
Continuing and Professional Development
From "Why did the entrepreneur cross the road?' to 'How to create an enterprising school without adding to your workload" we have designed entertaining and informative workshops for enterprise professionals and for those who simply want to learn what enterprise is all about.
Significantly, we achieve substantial numbers of participants.
Methodology
Broadly speaking our work covers the following areas
1. Processes of Engagement
Undertaking research and delivery of programmes which create more entrepreneurs.
2. Growing Businesses
Designing and delivering programmes which help to create higher growth businesses, from crossing the vat threshold to raising venture capital.
3. Participation and Productivity
Since our inception we have been particularly successful in developing mechanisms to help increase the range and diversity of people starting businesses and to increase their growth prospects.
4. Continuing and Professional Development Ideas Generation for a wide range of professionals
We have designed a range of programmes from workshops for Schools to Enterprise Coaching Training to specialist training for business advisors.
5. Creating Enterprise in New Areas
Be it enterprise in new geographic areas or sectors that have never engaged with enterprise before this is a key aspect of our work.
6. Enterprise and Regeneration
There is little point in building new offices and units if there is no-one to fill them.
We work very closely with URCs and Regeneration departments to overcome this issue.
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