So What Might We Achieve in the First 6 Months

We recently received the following reflections from Lawrence Holden, Chair of the Enterprise Facilitation project in North Liverpool, UK called ENABLE.

ENABLE North Ltd

1^st Half year – Achievements

Travels in the Kalahari have given me a different perspective of time and space but it has been a delight to sit down with Lynne Jones and consider what has been achieved in her first six months as Enterprise Facilitator.

Thinking about the nature of her work with clients has confirmed my belief that the Sirolli method of Enterprise Facilitation might have been designed for the needs of north Liverpool. As we are a segment of a vibrant, gritty and highly distinctive northern English city going through a process of rebirth, rather than a rural or township we do not appear to be a “typical” Sirolli project. The fact that our project is firmly bedded in a core of five or six community organisations has given us an abnormal pattern of contacts and introductions and a certain focus to our Panel.

Our Panel is not as large as we would like to be. But we have much to celebrate, be positive about and use as a firm base for really strong development ahead.

In order to strengthen our resolve this note will list, in a random order, as many things as I can that I think are good and worthy of celebration: -

• That so many community organisations are firmly bedded into our work
• That we have a good and positive culture and a set of core values that are respected
• That Lynne has a growing and highly diverse band of clients – both existing businesses and new set-ups
• That our belief that there is a strong flow of worth while business ideas awaiting expression in north Liverpool is now supported by evidence
• That the special kind of highly personal support that Lynne can offer is now making a real difference in many cases and is of the kind that is not available elsewhere
• That a significant contribution is being made by the personal connections that Lynne is making between clients and with others.
• That our Panel can repeatedly offer good and relevant ideas for Lynne’s clients in our brainstorming
• That our Panel has a wide spread of talent and is a place where hardnosed business people can engage and interact with community activists and public servants
• That the Panel’s meetings are always accompanied by valuable informal exchanges of information
• That our work is creating and enhancing a genuine “ripple effect” to create a distinctive culture of enterprise amongst people and communities that have long had a culture of dependency
• That we are working in excellent harmony with the adjoining “Dream High” and “Ripples” projects and have an ambitious fundraising programme with them and the two other Merseyside projects.
• That even at this relatively early stage success are emerging that provide good role models and a base for convincing sceptical local businesses and people that the Sirolli methodology works.

We must not be complacent – we have much to do – but these facts are encouraging.

Lawrence Holden

Chair of Panel

3 July 2007

Wonderful to get such positive feedback and a clear indication that the benefits of working with Enterprise Facilitation extend far beyond start up rates!

If you live or work in North Liverpool and would be interested in joining this community project then please do get in touch.