A new partnership will help communities in Suffolk to set up businesses that can address local needs. The development of the support programme is being funded by Power to Change, the independent trust dedicated to supporting community businesses across England, and by Suffolk County Council. The programme aims to help more community businesses to start trading and increase awareness of the way the sector can address social and economic challenges in the County.
MENTA will be the lead organisation in the partnership, working with Community Action Suffolk (CAS). MENTA has been commissioned by Power to Change and Suffolk County Council to develop a plan to support and strengthen the growth of new and existing community businesses in Suffolk.
Mel Overton, Enterprise Programme and Contracts Manager at MENTA, said, “I’m delighted we are to lead this community business support programme across Suffolk, and look forward to continuing our excellent working relationship with CAS. We are well positioned locally, regionally and nationally to deliver this ‘Supporting Community Business in Suffolk’ contract with all members of staff having a high regard for our reputation and their standard of consultancy advice, delivery of training and workshops, and significant networking events.”
Danielle Cohen, Development Manager at Power to Change said: “Community businesses transform places for the better, so we are delighted to be launching this collaborative programme with Suffolk County Council, which will support communities to come together and find innovative, sustainable ways of improving their places.”
Hannah Reid, Director of Business Development at CAS said, “We are delighted to be working with MENTA on this support programme. Suffolk has some incredible people doing outstanding work in their communities and we look forward to helping them discover more about community business and how it can help them achieve their local ambitions. Community business is about being locally rooted and community-led to make life better for local people; something that Suffolk communities are already proudly doing. This programme provides a platform to support, enhance and sustain this excellent work.”
For further information contact Mel Overton of MENTA, mel@menta.org.uk or call 01284 760206.
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www.menta.org.uk
About MENTA
Since being established in 1984 MENTA has built a strong reputation as the local enterprise agency providing advice, training and conferences to support over 30,000 small businesses across urban, rural and coastal areas in Suffolk.
MENTA was recently awarded the ‘Enterprise Support Organisation of the Year Award 2018’ by the National Enterprise Network (NEN), for the outstanding work delivered to support businesses.
MENTA’s quality delivery and unique approach have enabled us to become a sustainable organization, receiving not just one but several national awards recognising us as an energetic and progressive organisation. MENTA is quality assured by BEIS and is regularly requested to give insights at a national level, feeding directly into key strategic Government bodies.
By not being a membership organization has enabled MENTA to directly engage with businesses, tailoring service delivery to match their needs. This unique model has been successful, not only with private sector organisations, but with local authorities, voluntary and community sectors and key stakeholders.
Community Action Suffolk contact –
Hannah Reid
Director Business Development
01473 345332 / 07974 302443