Recognising and proving that enterprise and economic development tools can be used for more than the creation of private enterprise and private profit, Burnley Enterprise offers a wide range of support both directly to groups, and to their infrastructure and networking bodies, whatever stage of development or growth they may be at.
These support services include:
Structure:
In order to protect the interests of their members and communities, it is increasingly important that voluntary and community groups adopt the most appropriate legal structure.
Financial planning and budgeting:
Given the increasing scarcity of grant funding, groups need to be sure that they are adequately budgeting their activities for both fund-raising and management purposes.
‘Quality assurance’:
Often, partners and funders will ask for evidence that a group has adopted management practices and systems that confirm to recognised standards. Burnley Enterprise can work with you to select the most appropriate one as well as in implementing it.
Development of trading activity:
Many groups are now exploring opportunities to begin to generate their own income through trading activities.
Fundraising:
Burnley Enterprise can also therefore support groups to research, identify and apply for grants and other awards from a wide range of bodies and trusts including:
• Lottery programmes
• Carnegie Trust
• Comic Relief grants
• European funds
Management development:
Burnley Enterprise offers a range of both ‘standard’ and bespoke training activities and programmes to develop the skills of the people who can often find themselves on management and leadership positions without planning to be.