Projects & collaborations

Sheffield’s Local Enterprise Growth Initiative, launched in September 2007, aims to boost enterprise in Sheffield by helping more people to set up in business, support sustainable business growth and increase the success rate of locally-owned businesses in Sheffield. The project currently funded by central government until 2011 is called BiG: Make it Your Business and Sheffield Technology Parks are proud to be associated with this initiative in various ways.
 

1. The Big Challenge - The BiG Challenge is designed to encourage and generate enterprise in education. Teams made up of pupils aged 11-19 from schools and colleges had the opportunity to win a share of money to support enterprise in their school.  There were £100,000 of prizes in total with personal rewards for each team member, plus the BiG Prize… a fully paid five day trip to the Harvard Business School in Boston USA for the winners.
   

   
   Each business team was given £25 cash supplied by Sheffield Technology Parks to get them started.   The teams’ business objective was to increase that amount by as much as possible within the BiG Challenge time frame, employing teamwork, innovation and entrepreneurship. 

   Sheffield Technology Parks would like to congratulate winners ‘Bits and Boblets’.
   

2. Independent Workspace Advisor – Peter’s role as an Independent Workspace Advisor (IWA) for the Sheffield LEGI programme (branded as BIG), sees him continuing to assist a couple of the neighbourhood Enterprise Centres to develop their business plans and ensure, for LEGI, that there is appropriate management and sustainability built into the applications they make for LEGI funding.

   Currently he is still working with Burngreave New Deal for Communities on the implementation of the Sorby House operational plan and with Southey and Owlerton Area Regeneration (SOAR) – on the proposed £5M Knutton Rd managed workspace development at Parsons Cross.

3. Specialist Business Support. – As one of the specialist partners working with Sheffield Enterprise Agency, Sheffield Technology Parks is providing start-up advice and support to companies wishing to start-up in the Creative or Digital Industries. Delivered in conjunction with Inspiral, our BiG start-up programme provides a menu of support, individually matched to suit our clients needs. The most relevant support will be chosen from:
   
   
   • Initial assessment and diagnostic of business needs
   • Preparation of Enterprise Development Portfolio (EDP) involving
     • in-depth action planning outlining milestones and actions
   • A bespoke package of specialist support including:
     • Inspiral’s I-start mentoring programme
     • STP’s ‘Creating a Revolutionary Business’ course
   • Free use of meeting rooms at Don Valley site for business meetings (maximum 6 months)
   • Mentoring (including soft-skills)
   • Relevant signposting
   • Brokering specialist consultants and expertise
   • A business address and virtual tenancy at Don Valley site (6 months)

For more details click here to contact us.