Furness Enterprise improves economic fortunes in Cumbria by "Encouraging Enterprise"

The Cumbria-based organisation has been recognised for its success in inspiring a low-skill, low-wage, low-aspiration population to become enterprising.

Until ten years ago, employment in Barrow-in-Furness centred almost exclusively on engineering and manufacturing. Rocked by subsequent shifts in the economy and political environment, the town found itself facing low levels of employment and an exodus of its young people. Low skill and low wage-levels fostered a culture of worklessness with three of the town’s wards ranking in the top 10% most deprived wards in the UK. It had the third highest concentration of incapacity benefit claims in the UK and this, coupled with the town’s relative geographic isolation, resulted in very few new businesses being started. In addition, young people were leaving the area in large numbers and not returning.

Desiring to stem and reverse the declining economic fortunes of the area, public and private sector leaders, came together through Furness Enterprise to work in partnership on Encouraging Entrepreneurship in Furness. Research showed that four factors were key to promoting enterprise: providing continuity of support, developing networks, celebrating local success and engaging young people. Addressing each of these factors enabled the project to initiate change, tackle the worklessness culture, and engage young people at the point where they were making decisions about their future to enable them to see starting a business as a viable option.

Encouraging Enterprise implemented a comprehensive programme of events, publications, online activity, network building and partnerships with educational institutions to encourage and support enterprise amongst the local community as well as attracting talent from outside the area.

One particularly successful innovation is the Furness Young Professionals (FYP) network which was set-up by young entrepreneur Sally Broom with funding and support from the project. After studying in London, Sally returned to her hometown of Ulverston with an idea for an eco-tourism business which, with guidance from Furness Enterprise, she managed to turn into a very successful reality.

Sally then got involved with Encouraging Enterprise’s mission to retain and attract young talent to the area by forming the FYP network, a group of ambitious young people who feel strongly about improving the area in which they live and work from locally based multinationals including BAE Systems and Glaxo SmithKline.

She says, “Both Furness Enterprise and I felt that there was very little to keep young graduates in the area or to encourage those from outside to move here. So we set about creating a network of young professionals with similar interests to nurture and retain young entrepreneurial talent. It’s been fantastically successful and membership is growing all the time – we’re up to 50 now. The impact has been beneficial both in social and professional terms with people who were considering leaving the area changing their minds as a result of joining. I’m now talking to people across the UK about how they can set up similar groups.”

Encouraging Enterprise’s collaborative approach involves organisations such as West Lakes Renaissance, Furness Enterprise, Barrow Borough Council, local schools and colleges, and the private sector working in partnership to improve economic and social prosperity. Involvement of local schools and colleges has ensured that the encouragement of enterprise has become a focus point of courses, lessons and events.

Events have brought people with enterprise ambitions together, enabling them to share ideas and build confidence through presentations conveying a ‘you can do it!’ message. A ‘Local Heroes’ publication is issued annually celebrating enterprise success stories. Filled with role model profiles and easy to follow how-to guides, it aims to promote enterprise as a viable option for everyone.

All project activity is supported by the Go Furness website (www.gofurness.com), a site dedicated to young people looking for opportunities which has received over 9,000 visitors since it went live last year. It showcases entrepreneurial best practice, features inspirational interviews and profiles and lists upcoming events and employment opportunities.

Links with universities have been cultivated and trips to the area for students looking for employment arranged to attract enterprising talent to Furness. So far more than 100 students have been introduced to employment opportunities in the area. A strong link has been forged with Lancaster University, and there are plans to extend this to the new University of Cumbria.

By providing a customised programme of business and personal education, support, mentoring and financial assistance, Initiatives such as the New Entrepreneur Scholarship have helped reduce the barriers traditionally encountered by people from disadvantaged areas when they try to start a business in deprived wards.

Encouraging Enterprise in Furness has been highly successful in producing an increase in the number of business start-ups, engaging young people and rejuvenating the area’s enterprise culture. Since 2003 558 new businesses have been started up creating over 790 jobs.

A new scene is emerging that is witness to advanced engineering businesses, a marine cluster of international repute, an enlivened shipbuilding capability and a thriving arts and creative community. This has resulted in more people moving back to the area after time spent working and training away and increased employment. A more confident and increasingly enterprising population has been achieved against a backdrop of some of the most challenging circumstances that could face any borough in the UK.

John Barker has been the lead on the project since its inception. He says, “Living and working in Barrow, I have seen our economy change and the challenges this has brought. Barrow had to take its future in its own hands and create conditions that make people want to stay here and encourage others to move in. Through the Encouraging Entrepreneurship project we’re achieving this. We have worked hard to influence local culture and minds and introduce the benefits of enterprise to all. There is still some way to go but we believe we have made an excellent start.”

Furness Enterprise was the winner of 2008 Enterprising Britain competition for the North West.