The key objective of the Refugees into Business project is to:
Provide a long-term improvement in the support available for refugees wishing to set up in business
To help deliver this objective, the project will establish refugee enterprise partnerships or networks in the West Midlands (led by the Refugee Council) and in the North West (led by Refugee Action).
The aim of these networks is to:
- Focus enterprise support on refugee issues
- Develop capacity within mainstream and community service providers
- Develop a strategy for engagement with refugee entrepreneurs
- Influence regional development agencies
- Identify ways of ensuring the sustainability of the project
Other project activities (mainly focussed in the two target regions) involve:
- A self-help guide for refugees on how to start-up a business in the UK
- A basic business advice toolkit for advisers in refugee communities
- A refugee awareness toolkit and training for mainstream business advisers
- Customised training and placements with mainstream business advice agencies for community refugee advisers
- A business-mentoring programme for start-up businesses
- A ‘refugees into business’ website bringing together information about the project including on-line advice, case studies, guides and training materials
To spread the experience of the project and raise awareness of the issues there will be some regional seminars and a national conference towards the latter part of the year.
The economic and social benefits of the project could be huge. Not least of which is breaking through barriers to ensure refugees’ contribution to the UK economy is better understood and valued.
