NEW BUSINESS: Careers coach Jane Saunders who has been helped in her new business venture by the Inspiring Enterprise programme
A Hampshire based jobs programme is celebrating the success of member Jane Saunders who has gone from redundant to business owner thanks to input from the £1.45m scheme.
After being made redundant from a senior role in career coaching at the BBC, Jane is ready to launch her new coaching business thanks to the support from mentors and advisers at the Inspiring Enterprise programme.
The programme has received £1.45m of National Lottery funding from the Big Lottery Fund and the European Social Fund as part of the Building Better Opportunities programme.
It aims to tackle the root causes of poverty, promote social inclusion and drive local jobs and growth in the M3 corridor region – stretching from Ringwood to the M25.
Now working from her home in Aldershot, Jane specialises in coaching all types of career transitions and teaching leaders how to use a coaching style.
She said: “It is very early days for me as I’m still setting up the business. Everything is so different from my time working in a corporate environment, but I love the flexibility and freedom of running my own business.
“I have found the help I’ve received from my WSX Enterprise mentors on the Inspiring Enterprise programme to be exceedingly good. They encourage, advise, inspire and provide development and networking opportunities I wouldn’t have had otherwise.
“Having a specialist mentor guide you through the early stages in setting up your own business is incredibly valuable – I have really benefitted from everything Inspiring Enterprise offers.”
Jane specialises in transition coaching – for people taking up new roles, employees moving to senior roles or clients seeking to manage their career.
She is aiming her marketing at the HR departments of small to medium enterprises and says Inspiring Enterprise networking events have proved particularly useful for building business relationships and partnerships.
The Inspiring Enterprise scheme is being managed by not-for-profit business support company WSX Enterprise in partnership with Action Hampshire, Surrey Community Action, Fredericks Foundation and the University of Winchester
WSX Enterprise Project Manager Liz Wright said: “Jane is proof that Inspiring Enterprise can benefit a whole range of budding entrepreneurs – at any stage of their career.
“She is much further down the track towards the goal of her own successful business than some of our other clients, but has still found that the huge amount of help available has benefited her in many ways.
“I would therefore urge anyone who feels they fit the criteria for the programme to come forward without hesitation.”
Overall, Inspiring Enterprise will help 500 unemployed people in the New Forest, North Hampshire and South Surrey to change their own lives and the communities in which they live.
You can find out more about the project on the website: www.inspiringenterprise.org.uk or by calling 01962 827435.
More details on Jane’s business can be found at www.janesaunderscoaching.co.uk .
Building Better Opportunities
The Big Lottery Fund is the largest funder of community activity in the UK. It puts people in the lead to improve their lives and communities, often through small local projects.
It is responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised by National Lottery players for good causes. Last year it awarded £583 million and supported around 12,000 grants across the UK for health, education, environment and charitable purposes.
Since June 2004 it has awarded over £8 billion to projects that change the lives of millions of people.
The BBO project has received up to £300 million of funding from the Big Lottery Fund and the European Social Fund as part of the 2014-2020 European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme in England.
The Department for Work and Pensions is the Managing Authority for the England European Social Fund programme.
Established by the European Union, the European Social Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support skills development, employment and job creation, social inclusion and local community regenerations. For more information visit
https://www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding
News release issued by:
Cliff Moore, Account Director
Deep South Media
Mobile: 07469 158458 Office: 01202 534487
E-mail: cliff.moore@deepsouthmedia.co.uk
