Parkside High have been featured in the D2 Business Starter Programme case study. Read the case study below…
The Business
Parkside High is a social enterprise operating across Erewash which aims to support, engage and inspire young people. It delivers workshops in schools, children’s centres and in the community, supporting children aged between six and 18 years, with the aim of helping each of them reach their true potential. A dedicated team of staff, freelance creatives and volunteers deliver art and music workshops, sports projects, outdoor activities and forest schools to help young people develop their confidence and resilience and achieve their dreams and ambitions, regardless of their personal circumstances.
The Support
Former construction worker Liam Parker founded the enterprise in 2017 after becoming unemployed a year earlier. He had a passion for helping to engage local young people through organising community events and activities and wanted to create something which would inspire more young people to get involved. He was referred to the D2 Starter Programme by the Erewash Partnership, as he was looking for support and guidance in getting the venture off the ground. As well as receiving mentoring from a dedicated business adviser, he attended workshops covering business basics such as budgeting, HR and marketing.
The Impact
Liam was able to access support and insight not just from dedicated business professionals, but also other start-up businesses and enterprises facing the same issues, to share advice and ideas. After an initial five-workshop trial, Parkside High secured a 48-workshop contract from Erewash Youth Services to deliver activities across the borough. Since launch, it has worked with more than 1,000 local youngsters and is working in partnership with Derby County Community Trust, Chesterfield FC Community Trust and Erewash Gymnastics to create further opportunities. It has also employed its first apprentice.
The D2 Starter Programme was great for helping me to put the foundations in place that I could build my creative ideas around. We try to be ambitious and make progress every day but we’re really proud of what we have achieved so far. That said, there is much more we still want to do to help local young people. Liam Parker – Director
About the D2 Business Starter Programme
The D2 Business Starter Programme is a dynamic project helping people in communities throughout Derby and Derbyshire to start their own business.
Through a series of themed workshops and one-to-one support, the programme aims to help people explore and develop their business ideas and equip them with the practical knowledge and skills they need to get up and running. It is funded by Derby City Council and Derbyshire County Council and delivered by East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire), the leading business organisation in the region.
To find out more about how the D2 Business Starter Programme can help bring your business idea to life, visit www.pushthebuttontoday.com
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