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REFLEX - Re-generating Enterprise through Facilitating Local Economic Exchange

Logo for REFLEX - Re-generating Enterprise through Facilitating Local Economic Exchange www.reflexmodel.co.uk 

Partnership information

Description

reflex BA

Aim

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.

Round

1

Lead partner

London Borough of Islington
www.islington.gov.uk

Core partners

Arachne Greek Cypriot Women's Group, Asian Business Association, Barclays Bank, Black Business Association, Camden Training Network, Capacity Unlimited, Centa for Business, Day-Mer Turkish and Kurdish Community Centre, Hoxton Bibliotech, Immune Development Trust, Islington African Project 2000, Islington Chamber of Commerce & Trade, Islington Enterprise Agency, Islington Training Network, Kingston University, London Borough of Camden (Town Hall), London East Learning and Skills Council, London North Learning and skills Council, Medium Technologies Consultancy Ltd, Muslim Welfare House, Prevista Ltd., Queen's Crescent Community Center, Refugee Education and Training Advisory Service (RETAS), Small Business Service - Business Link for London, Somali Speakers Association, The Elfrida Society, UNL

Transnational partnerships

Information for Transnational partnerships

Contact

Tony Swash, London Borough of Islington,

Equal theme

Business creation

Achievements

The REFLEX model has been adopted by local authorities as a mechanism for the engagement of communities who have experienced social exclusion.

The development of the membership organisation ACBBA, owned by and for community organisations who deliver business support, is one of the long-lasting achievements of REFLEX.

The project has now trained 12 people from different ethnic minority organisations using an experimental a cross-cultural support model to develop business advisors. The training has allowed workers based directly in community organisations to obtain recognised professional qualifications as business advisors. Seven community based business advisors have been accredited.

There have been 118 business start ups under the project. Four community business networks were created and one European Community network.

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Connections

Connections

Activities and products

Print
Action Research PilotThis report was the evaluation of a small action research pilot carried out as part of the work of the REFLEX Partnership. The action research was undertaken...
DVD
Beyond DialogueReflex DVD...
Website
Daymer Business Awareness DayThis workshop was delivered by a business advisor working with the Turkish speaking business advisor of Business Link and the customer services manager...
Print
Development Needs of Community Organisations for Enterprise SupportThis was one of a series of reports, carried out by Kingston University, presenting the results of the research component of Reflex. It presented the...
Print
Empowering Community Organisations to Support BME Businesses – Case StudiesThis was one of a series of reports, carried out by Kingston University, presenting the results of the research component of Reflex. The aim of the case...
Print
Enterprising Women's Conference - ReportThis publication reported on the conference and its outcomes....
Print
Evaluation Report from the 'Regenerating Communities, Regenerating Enterprise' conferencesThis was an evaluation report on these two events....
Website
Halkevi conferences and seminarsThis organisation held a transnational conference and a social for REFLEX. It also held subject related seminars for the Kurdish and Turkish speaking...
Website
Iranian Community Centre (ICC) Refugee DayThis was a celebration of Refugee Day. Some Iranian refugees talked about their experiences. ICC had a stall and distributed leaflets about REFLEX....
Website
LAWRS Business Network meetingsLAWRS organised two Latin American Business Network meetings....
Print
Lessons Learnt from the REFLEX ProjectThis report was an evaluation of the Reflex model....
Website
Muslim Welfare House ConferenceThe Muslim Welfare House participated in a conference for Muslim businesses in North London. The aim was to establish a network for Muslim businesses....
Website
Project websiteThe website holds information and key documents for both partners and public....
Print
REFLEX PARTNERSHIP EVALUATION The Reflex partnership ran an away day in December 2004 in order to evaluate the Partnership. Two external Evaluators were commissioned to facilitate...
Print
Reflex toolkitThe toolkit gave a guide to the key points of Reflex. It acted as a guide for developing similar projects....
Website
Regenerating Communities, Regenerating EnterpriseHeld on 15 July 2004 & 27 September 2004, these two events offered opportunities for representatives of community and voluntary organisations, policy makers...
Print
Researching Businesses through Community Based OrganisationsThis was one of a series of reports, carried out by Kingston University, presenting the results of the research component of Reflex. It aimed to ascertain...
Website
Translated Business Advisors fact sheetsFact sheets were required to assist community business advisors in languages other than English. The community organisations developed and translated the...
Website
UCKG taxation workshopThis was held for business clients under the REFLEX project. A senior official from the Inland Revenue was invited to host the workshop on helping start-ups...
Website
Website for ACBBAThis website gives information about the aims and activities of ACBBA, an organisation set up by Reflex....