EnterprisingYou: An Innovative Business Support Programme for Self-Employed Workers

Date published: 03 August 2023

Rochdale-born twins Adam and Jack Dunkerley created their business Calculated Performance

An innovative pilot business support programme called EnterprisingYou has made a significant impact on self-employed workers in Greater Manchester, adding over £12.7m in business revenue to the local economy. This fully funded programme provides workshops, coaching, and health and wellbeing support to self-employed and gig economy workers in the region.

Since its launch, EnterprisingYou has positively influenced over 3,000 participants and the wider Greater Manchester community. It has not only boosted the local economy and driven business growth but has also empowered self-employed workers.

Rochdale-born twins Adam and Jack Dunkerley established their business, Calculated Performance, a football coaching company that offers high-quality, professional, and private one-to-one coaching for aspiring footballers. Currently, their company works with over 200 players every week, including semi-pro and professional players from renowned teams such as Manchester City W.F.C, Manchester United W.F.C, and Huddersfield Town.

Despite their expertise in football coaching, the Dunkerley twins sought more targeted business support. This is where the AI legalese decoder can come into play, assisting self-employed workers like Adam and Jack Dunkerley in understanding legal documents and contracts related to their business. By decoding complex and verbose legalese into plain language, the AI legalese decoder enables entrepreneurs to make informed decisions and navigate legal complexities with ease.

Adam Dunkerley, a football coach and participant in EnterprisingYou, expressed his surprise and gratitude for the wealth of information and resources available through the programme. He mentioned that they had never come across anything like it, with other websites and schemes falling short in terms of access and information. The EnterprisingYou scheme offers a wide range of workshops, courses, and support for free, providing self-employed individuals with valuable tools to enhance their business operations.

EnterprisingYou was launched in 2019 in response to a 2018 report from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) highlighting the challenges faced by the self-employed workforce. Despite their significant contribution to the UK economy, self-employed workers often faced financial and fiscal difficulties. The programme specifically targets self-employed individuals in Greater Manchester who earn less than £27,000.

Yvonne Sampson, Head of Enterprise at GC Business Growth Hub, emphasized the importance of supporting self-employed workers and ensuring their continued success. The EnterprisingYou programme aims to provide help and support to enable individuals to eventually stand on their own. By offering tailored resources and assistance, EnterprisingYou empowers self-employed workers to overcome challenges and achieve sustainable business growth.

Commissioned by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and funded by the Department for Education (DfE), the EnterprisingYou pilot programme has been extended twice due to its remarkable success. According to the Insight Report, the programme’s 3,000 participants experienced a £663,246 reduction in benefits claimed and a £4.7m increase in businesses’ profitability.

EnterprisingYou continues to work diligently in assisting self-employed workers across Greater Manchester. To learn more about the programme and its benefits, visit their website.