The aim of the REFLEX DP was to offer practical and innovative solutions to build the capacity of local community organisations to engage in and deliver business advice. It also aimed to facilitate access to mainstream business support from business support agencies.
Objectives
The main objectives were:
- To research enterprise development in black and minority ethnic communities and other groups excluded in the labour market.
- To develop programmes to increase the capacity of community organisations to promote and support enterprise.
- To develop business networks and implement good practice in the provision of enterprise support.
- To work with business support agencies to promote enterprise development in local communities, particularly amongst groups commonly excluded in the labour market.
Background REFLEX was under development from autumn, 2000 and was the subject of extensive preparatory partnership working and extensive consultation across Islington, Camden and the neighbouring Finsbury Park SRB border areas in Hackney and Haringey. There was a need to encourage entrepreneurship among disadvantaged communities. Nearly a quarter of Islington's population is non-white but just 10% of its enterprises had a non-white owner.
Target beneficiary groups REFLEX was focused on disadvantaged groups in Islington, Camden, Hackney and Haringey. The project particularly targeted black and minority ethnic communities, utilising organisations with a proven track record in engaging groups not traditionally accessing mainstream business support. Other targets were women, lone parents, people with disabilities, people with HIV, refugees and asylum seekers.
