Outlines the barriers to enterprise in disadvantaged areas and describes policies set up to improve this. Describes the types of projects selected by the Phoenix Development Fund, their target market and the types of organisations that operated the projects. Analyses the income that the projects used. Examines how the projects reached their clients and what types of clients they worked with. Considers the extent to which the Phoenix Development Fund has encouraged fresh thinking about stimulating enterprise. Explores the effectiveness of the Fund as a whole and the extent to which the Fund has helped build capacity. Examines the impact of the Fund on mainstream delivery of business support services to entrepreneurs in disadvantaged groups and communities.

The evaluation was commissioned by the Small Business Service. It aimed to address the success and effectiveness of the Fund in encouraging fresh thinking and reaching sections of the community who were not engaged with mainstream business support initiatives.

Draws on three surveys undertaken in 2003 and 2004 of clients and projects, quarterly monitoring data and research based on twenty-four case studies.

Finds that the Fund has been successful and that its reflective action-oriented approach contributed greatly to the growth of experience and capacity for business support to encourage inclusive enterprise.

The Fund met, to a considerable extent, its aims of:

It was less successful however in mainstreaming. The Fund showed that it is possible for one policy programme of practical action for inclusive enterprise to address the different problems of under-representation, neighbourhood decline and individual disadvantage.

Small Business Service
Phone: +44 (0)207 215 5000
dti.enquiries@dti.gsi.gov.uk

01/07/2005

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Ramsden, Peter (Freiss Ltd)

research

Urban Policy > Economy knowledge & employment > Urban economy

Business support