Help for the unemployed

The Pathways to Enterprise project, which is part funded by Sandwell Council, has been set up to offer help.

Sandwell, like many other areas in the Black Country, is facing uncertain times.

Unemployment is high with redundancies increasingly commonplace. There is increased competition for jobs and a low numbers of new businesses starting up.

But help is on hand. Through a team of enterprise coaches, the project provides free support if you are interested in setting up your own business or you want to increase your employment prospects by improving your skills, CV or interview techniques.

The objective of the project is to help you feel confident about self employment and that you have the necessary skills and understanding to make becoming self employment a reality.

Richard Williams, Pathway's project manager, said: "The current economic situation means that more people are seriously considering self employment.

"However, it is a daunting prospect and many people don't know where to start.

"The support we offer helps people to explore self employment and ensure they have the necessary skills and understanding to take their idea forward.

"Our support is accessible, friendly and focused on the needs of the individual."

The project is eligible for anyone in Sandwell over the age of 16.

If you sign up to the project, you can expect to receive the following:

• Help and guidance to explore and develop business ideas
• Activities and workshops to help improve confidence, self esteem and basic skills
• Activities and workshops to help improve business start up understanding
• Support and guidance from self employed individuals
• Signposting to further support and specialised training
• Help with research
• Opportunities to network with other entrepreneurs
• Help and guidance to improve employment opportunities

Demand for the project is already high with more than 150 people in Sandwell currently receiving support and many more potential entrepreneurs waiting to join.

The project works too, with more than 10 new businesses being created. 

Ravinder Singh, director of SNS Accountancy Ltd, said: "I was unemployed after being made redundant from my previous job and was at a crossroads of what to do next. 

"I was interested in self employment, but didn't think I could do it. The Pathways to Enterprise project provided me with a great deal of help and support on all aspects of setting up my business.

"Without their support I wouldn't be running my own accountancy business now."

The project runs until December 2012.  If you are interested and would like to know more, contact Richard Williams on 01902 572020 or email pathways@w-n-c.org

Sandwell Council cabinet member for jobs and economy Councillor Ian Jones said: "Anything that offers help to people to stay in employment has got to be a good thing.

"I would urge people who are unemployed or who think they may be made redundant to contact the service and get help and guidance."

The project is delivered by Wolverhampton Network Consortium and is funded by the European Regional Development Fund, Walsall Housing Group, Walsall Council, Wolverhampton City Council and Sandwell Council.

You can follow the Pathways to Enterprise on Twitter and Facebook.