Business Enterprise Skills Training

BEST Programme The 'Business Enterprise Skills Training' programme is an enterprise support programme for individuals in the initial stages of contemplating business start-up. It offers training workshops which allow participants to develop a strategy for the development of their business idea. This will be complemented with one-to-one business mentoring support as individuals develop their business proposal. At the end of the programme participants may progress on to the New Deal for Self Employment or to the Business Start Programme offered by the local Enterprise Agencies.

The programme is being delivered by a consortium, which includes North Belfast Partnership, West Belfast Partnership, Greater Shankill Partnership, and a local management consultancy firm, Stakeholder Development Ltd.

Participants will be recruited from all three Partnership areas. Training workshops will be provided in each of the Partnership areas, commencing in late October/early November 2005. Childcare and travelling allowances are available to participants on the training workshops. The whole programme is free to participants. To be eligible for this programme, participants must have a genuine commitment or interest in starting their own business enterprise. Entitlement to State benefits are not affected by participation on the programme. The programme is particularly suited to those in the early stages of contemplating starting a business venture.

The BEST programme is funded by Springvale Community Outreach Initiative under its economic development programme.

As places are limited it is recommended to book your place as soon as possible.

For further information on the programme click here or contact James Edgar at North Belfast Partnership (Tel: 9075 2990).