Hull Enterprise Partnership celebrates success
Some 60 businesses have been set up by entrepreneurs and more than 100 jobs created over the last two years with help from the Hull Enterprise Partnership (HEP), despite the current economic climate.
Figures have been released to mark the second anniversary of the Partnership, partly funded by the European Regional Development Fund, which helps people in the HU1-HU9 areas to set up their own business. HEP has also assisted them by providing key advice including developing business plans and ways to source funding.
Altogether in the two years since the inception of the HEP, it has supported 190 existing businesses and helped 54 social enterprises to generate income for community-based activities. The Partnership has also safeguarded 27 jobs within businesses. HEP covers the city through four partner-companies – Community Church Hull, Goodwin Development Trust, Latitude and Probe (Hull) Ltd - with a team of 20 advisors working with clients.
Over the past year, HEP has helped people set up businesses such as a fancy dress shop, pilates instruction company, electrical firm, Muslim wedding match-making service, an environmentally-friendly cleaning co-operative, a clothes alteration business, and a handbags accessory shop. The Partnership also staged the Enterprise Den in March 2010, which gave fledgling businesses a chance to bid for funds in a Dragons’ Den-style contest to develop their products, with the £3,000 cash prize fund donated by city firms.
Project Manager Pete McKillop says: “These statistics are proof that the recession hasn’t hindered entrepreneurs, but given them real opportunity. We’re here to give a helping hand to people to realise their dreams and, after just two years, we’ve made a huge contribution to the local economy.”
The Hull Enterprise Partnership will be promoting its work at the Hull World Cup event on Saturday 22 May at the University of Hull Sports Ground in Inglemire Lane, Hull, and will be exhibiting at next month’s Hull Expo at the Bonus Arena, Walton Street, Hull.
For further details on the HEP, call 01482 714242 or log onto www.enterprisinghull.org.uk.
