Catalyst for helping budding businesses

YOU would be pushed to find a link between a former contender on Gladiators, a passionate environmentalist and a monument to Victorian philanthropy.

These disparate influences come together in Shine, a place which aims to prove that entrepreneurship is alive and kicking in places far removed from the Square Mile.

The centre's existence is a minor miracle. It's based inside the former Harehills Middle School, in Leeds, a palatial testament to the late 19th-century belief in self-improvement.

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The school, which closed in 1986, was almost bulldozed at the turn of the century after it became a magnet for vandals.

With a 4.5m injection of private and public sector funding, the school has been reborn as an enterprise centre, which includes a pay-as-you-go business hub, called The Catalyst.

Since it opened, in 2008, it has helped dozens of businesses to get off the ground.

But what about grassroots entrepreneurs who can barely afford a laptop? Should they miss out on a chance to gain a foothold in the world of work? After all, you can't impress potential clients by holding a meeting in your front room.

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Chrissie Slater, a director of Camberwell, the social business that is the major shareholder in Shine, believes networking is the key to success.

She said: "Some entrepreneurs wanted to use the centre, but couldn't afford the space, especially those just starting out in business."

So, instead, they are embarking on a "journey of support", with backing from the Leeds Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI)

The launchpad programme – which gives them plush surroundings and puts them in touch with business advisers – has been devised and funded by LEGI to ensure more people get a chance to see if they could become their own boss.

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Shine is part of Sharing the Success, the LEGI funded programme to regenerate parts of Leeds which have been left behind.

Leeds is the top financial services centre outside London. Its heart is teeming with lawyers and accountants. However, if you head a couple of miles away from the centre, it's a different story.

Over the years, Harehills' residents have complained about the damaging consequences of crime and high unemployment.

But, if you scratch the surface, there are hundreds of people who want a better life.

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In 2007, Leeds won 20.6m of public sector cash to help more people find work by encouraging enterprise.

According to Simon Brereton, the LEGI programme manager, the launchpad will help entrepreneurs from "non-traditional" backgrounds by providing a low cost business base, and the chance to meet like-minded people and advisers.

He added: "This puts support that has traditionally been available only in the city centre in the heart of the communities where we are trying to spread entrepreneurship."

As Shine attracts more fee-paying members, the taxpayer won't have to foot the bill to keep it going, Mr Brereton said.

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He believes this is better than the public sector creating a subsidised competitor to providers of pay-as-you-go business accommodation, "which would clearly not be a sensible use of tax payers' money".

Ms Slater said: "We have had 420 entrepreneurs who have expressed an interest (in the launchpad), and so, far, we are supporting 41 of them, who are all in the Harehills and Beeston areas."

They include Kwasi Adoo – known as Q – a former professional basketball player, who is using the "launchpad" at Shine to run a fitness training business.

First impressions count, so Mr Adoo, who once appeared on Sky TV's Gladiators, wanted to find a low cost base that showed he was a serious businessman. He was referred to the launchpad scheme by his business adviser in nearby Chapeltown.

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Ms Slater believes fledgling business people can achieve more from collaboration.

She said: "We have been running a form of swap shop – for example, we had a start-up photographic business and the woman behind it needed to gain confidence in selling.

"She received some sales coaching from a business, and in return she did some photography for them.

"A lot of the people who use the catalyst centre are small businesses, from a variety of backgrounds. They include those with just an idea and little or no experience in business. There are others who are highly qualified and may have left senior posts in London to come to Leeds. All of them are businesses that need connections to opportunities.

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"The 41 who are taking part in the launchpad programme can use it as a business address. The target is to provide support to 100 entrepreneurs this year – if we meet this target, we will get 40,000 from Legi funds."

The private sector can use Shine as a conference venue, knowing the profits are going back into the community.

More than 90 per cent of Shine's profits are ploughed back into projects to encourage local entrepreneurs in Leeds.

This means it can help people like Chris Tremelett, who lost his job at an energy saving company at the height of the recession in March 2009.

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A lengthy stint on the dole beckoned, until his passionate hatred of fuel poverty enabled him to spot a business opportunity.

He retrained as a Government-accredited Energy Assessor and founded The Renewable Energy Experts CIC – Tree for short – and works with councils and housing associations to ensure people on the poverty line don't face crippling fuel bills.

Since moving to Shine, in August 2009, he has created seven jobs, and is optimistic about the potential for hiring even more.

He said: "We now have professional facilities, and, more importantly, a professional image."

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Mr Tremelett believes that hard-earned cash shouldn't be squandered due to poor insulation.

These are sentiments that would have earned an approving nod from any Victorian teacher.

FROM SCHOOL TO ENTERPRISE CENTRE

Harehills Middle School – which was originally known as Gipton Board School – opened in 1897 and closed in 1986.

There were moves to demolish the building in 2000, but Yorkshire Forward stepped in with a 1m grant to secure the fabric of the premises.

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The school was renowned for dancing. Nadine Senior was appointed senior PE teacher in 1972 and in her passion for dance made it part of the curriculum. This resulted in the formation of the Phoenix Dance Company and later the Northern School of Contemporary Dance.

The vision for Shine in Harehills began in 2005 when the founding partners of the Camberwell Project visited the derelict school and decided it would be an ideal place for a community-based enterprise centre.

Over the next two years, Camberwell gathered support and raised 4.5m from public and private sources.

At the end of October 2007, the 999-year lease was sold to the Harehills Community Interest Company (CIC) and building work began.

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Camberwell established the CIC to ensure that the building could not be sold off at a profit and would remain in social use.

At least 90 per cent of all profits generated through the operations of the building are to be reinvested in social entrepreneurship in and around Leeds.