Fostering An ICT Culture in Minority Businesses

This project funded through the European Social Fund targets owner managers and decision-making staff (particularly female managers) within the regions Objective 2 wards, from small/micro Ethnic Minority Businesses across the East Midlands, to train them in ICT and Management Skills in order to:

  • Support the ICT Revolution
  • Develop a Strong Culture of Enterprise and Innovation within a sector that is by and large rooted in traditional and/or declining, low value added sectors that need innovation and enterprise skills development in order to evolve into more competitive and sustainable enterprises

The project addresses the horizontal themes of the ICT Revolution and Information society:

  • Equal Opportunities through supporting ethnic minority businesses and female managers and
  • Sustainable development through helping companies survive and innovate for growth

Regional Director for MEEM, Tim Haq says: "This target sector of Small and Micro Minority Businesses has vast potential for growth, but has always underachieved. They are traditionally resistant to and feel unsupported by mainstream support agencies and need the bespoke support and training activities that only organisations 'of and in' the ethnic minority community can deliver at this stage in their development.  The training activities will take place within their own communities, delivered by ethnic minority partner organisations.

"The project is designed to Foster an Innovation Culture and enable Business Innovation by establishing a learning and skills environment, in which businesses and individuals are motivated to succeed."

"By increasing awareness of the benefits, and use of, ICT, including increased usage of e-business tools, in what are very low usage enterprises and by directly encouraging increased connectivity in these business communities we hope to get these businesses to maximise the benefits of the ICT Revolution," he added.

Four delivery partners are helping MEEM with this project. They are:

  • Leicestershire African Caribbean Business Association
  • Cornerstone (Leicester) Training
  • Community Learning Network - Nottingham
  • Community Education & Training - Derby

If you would like more information please do not hesitate to contact us:
T: 0115 950 8253
E: info@meem.org.uk


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