Celebrating Success in Liverpool

We launched Striding Out in Liverpool, with the financial support of Liverpool Vision, in October 2008.

In June 2009 we conducted an interim evaluation to assess our impact so far. Find out what we have achieved with our clients below.

The aim of the programme is:-

To inspire young people to consider entrepreneurship as a career choice.
To support young entrepreneurs to successfully start and grow their business.
To raise the profile of young entrepreneurs in Liverpool

To achieve this we provide the following support package:-

Monthly Networking Events
One to One Business Coaching
Training Workshops - Sales, Marketing, Financial Planning, Presentation Skills, Social Media, Leadership and Management Skills.
Professional Mentor Bank - Mentors in Sales, Marketing, HR, Finance
E-Coaching Newsletters and Online Knowledge Bank
Promotion of Young Entrepreneurs through events and PR.

Outputs achieved between October 08 - June 09

300 people attended our monthly networking events.
We delivered 131 one to one coaching to 66 young entrepreneurs
We delivered training workshops to 250 young people
We organised 39 mentoring sessions to young entrepreneurs
We have attracted 3,037 people to our website from Liverpool, 268 people to our Striding Out in Liverpool Facebook group, and 793 people on our mailing list.
We have secured 15 press releases and promoted 15 young entrepreneurs through media and events.

Outcomes achieved between October 08 - June 09

Young people have developed the following Enterprising Knowledge

An improved understanding of how to sell
The importance of online marketing
How to differentiate between PR and publicity
Different leadership styles and characteristics
Knowledge of Book-keeping, Auditing and Costs
How to register business
How to register for vat
Understanding of pricing
Different ways to start own business
Understanding of market research and latest trends
Clarity on what self-employment involves
The value of boot-strapping and securing work placements.

Young people have developed the following Enterprising Attributes

Confidence in how to cold call
Problem solving strategies
Defined leadership style
Improved confidence, greater focus and readiness to go to the next level.
Stronger personal skills
Positive frame of mind
Clarity on whether self-employment is right for them
Understanding of how to be entrepreneurial
Increased motivation and drive to succeed
Clarity on personal measures of success
Focus, direction and creative thinking outside of the box
Different perspectives of entrepreneurial leadership
Confidence in taking the next step in my business
Forward thinking and ambition

'It was a really interesting and useful event which provided me with some good information. I'm going to focus on my strengths and interests, and I am better informed about the type of job I want.' Client

'I'm going to look more in depth into industries that interest me to see where I could fit. The discussions provided useful insight and helped bring the topic and issues alive into real world context. It has given me a lot of confidence in that it isn't impossible to start your own business. I'm now going to network more.' Client

Young people have developed the Enterprising Skills in

Branding
Sales
Marketing
Social Media
Teaching styles
Management and Leadership
Effective, speaking and presenting styles.
Press Relations
Media Strategy
Networking
Time management
Business Planning
Financial skills and account keeping.

"Within 2 weeks of attending the Striding Out PR event I approached and secured an interview with the an Entrepreneurial Website, giving advice to start-ups wanting to market their websites within Google." Chris Hough, http://www.naturalranks.co.uk/

"Within one week of attending the Striding Out - Press and PR event we were interviewed by a business journalist from the Liverpool Daily Post and Echo. The tips and advice we received from the Striding Out team and guest speakers gave us the knowledge and inspiration to make it happen. Webrevolve will be featured in this week‘s business section of the Daily Post, I highly recommend attending Striding Out events, they are a valuable resource for any business." Alex Ormandy http://www.webrevolve.co.uk/

Enterprising Outcomes - Achievements and Measures of Success

As a result of the training and coaching the young entrepreneurs have

Felt confident to approach new clients
Formed and registered their company
Developed new contacts and relationships
Undertaken more business development and secured more business
Taken on new member(s) of staff
Developed a business plan
Developed a marketing and sales strategy
Diversified their product and service offer.
Developed confidence in their service offering.
Developed the confidence to speak in public
Raised the profile of themselves and their business
Increased their sales revenue
Raised funding via schemes/funding bodies that we have learned about through Striding Out, e.g. Elect and UnLtd.
Developed partnerships to take the business forward.