Enterprise inquiries supported by Santander

With the support of Santander and the Department for Communities and Local Government, Business in the Community has developed a more significant strand of work on Enterprise this year.  We are particularly focusing on how large businesses can support small businesses in their town. 

To establish the campaign we are running a series of 14 Enterprise Inquiries across the country. Three were held in November in Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham and the report for these events is listed below. The remainder of the events will run in May and June this year.

Dates and locations

All the Enterprise Inquiries will be held as breakfast sessions, typically between 7.45am and 10.30am and are free to attend.  They are taking place in the following locations on the following dates:

For each event we are inviting 20 large businesses and 20 small businesses.  We mix the businesses on tables so there is an even mix of small and large.  Each Inquiry is Chaired by a senior business leader from the region.  Confirmed so far as Chairs we have:

• Mark Chivers, Programme Director of Shared Services, Boots – chairing in Nottingham
• Mike Blackburn, Regional Director of BT and Chair of Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership – chairing in Salford
• Harry Platt, Chief Executive, Workspace Group - chairing in Tottenham
• Mike Webb, Chief Executive of Mondial Assistance – chairing in Croydon
• Colm O’Neill, Managing Director of BT – chairing in Belfast
• Ifti Ahmed, Operations Director, Capita – chairing in Sheffield
• Kevin Walsh, Chief Executive of KCOM Group – chairing in Hull
• Richard Hutton, Financial Director of Greggs – chairing in Newcastle

Objectives of the Enterprise Inquiries

• To bring together senior business leaders from large corporates with small business owners in areas of disadvantage.  .
• To identify case studies of large businesses who are already helping small businesses grow either through the supply chain, through mentoring, through marketing workshops, HR advice etc.
• To identify business leaders in cities around the UK who are enthusiastic enough about the enterprise agenda to encourage other large businesses to replicate the good practice highlighted at the Inquiry.

Then what?

The Enterprise Inquiries are the beginning rather than the end of Business in the Community’s Enterprise strategy.  In the coming months we will also be working to deliver:

• Enterprise Connectors - It is our ambition that each of the Enterprise Inquiries will be the launch pad for an Enterprise Connector.  Based on the original model the Enterprise Connector will look to connect the skills, expertise and buying power of large businesses with smaller businesses in the area.
• Enterprise Growth Checklist – we are working towards publishing an Enterprise Growth Checklist sometime in June.  This will provide suggested actions which our member companies can do to support small businesses plus case studies, gathered from the Inquiries to show them how.
• Meet the Buyer events – we will be running three Meet the Buyer events in the Autumn to link SMEs with our larger business members and their buying power.
• The Business Case – we will be working with a Business School this year to establish the business case for large businesses to commit their time and energy to the Enterprise campaign.

Why is Santander and the Department of Communities and Local Government  supporting the Enterprise Inquiries

In recognition of the importance of Small or Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) to local communities, Santander is involved in a series of partnerships and initiatives with Business in the Community aimed at encouraging a sustainable approach to business, nurturing talent and supporting community enterprise. 

The Department of Communities & Local Government (DCLG) aims to support local areas, particularly those facing disadvantage, and sees the survival, development and growth of small businesses as key to this.  DCLG is therefore supporting the BITC Enterprise Inquiries and subsequent activity in six target areas to help local SMEs.