On Track brings together a partnership of organisations experienced and committed to enabling women across London to develop entrepreneurial skills across a range of ages and communities The principal aims of EOT is to enable candidates to gain the skills and support necessary to set up in business whether they are recent arrivals to the UK, or women thinking about a career change or those returning to work after a long period away from the job market. Each partner organization has a specialist area in which to support the candidates.
The London Development Agency (LDA) fund the programme through their Opportunities fund which invests in locally delivered projects which make a real impact on London's economic development.
Skills for Health are the lead partner and ultimately responsible for the project success. Skills for Health is the Sector Skills Council (SSC) for the UK health sector. Working to enhance the skills and flexibility of the UK workforce in order to improve health and healthcare.
Refugee Women’s Association (RWA) works with refugees and migrant communities to assist candidates over come language barriers and to build confidence with a view to candidates gaining employment or to setting up in business. RWA work very closely with each of the candidates and take a personal interest in each one, as Meryems progress shows.
The majority of RWA staff have come to the UK as refugees so have first hand experience of the barriers facing women entering the UK job market
London Metropolitan University have developed a business set up programme specifically for women thinking about or developing their own business, students benefit from both tutorship, 1 to 1 business support and peer group mentoring. The range of businesses being developed is incredible and many of the candidates from the first group which started their course in January 2007 have already set up their own businesses such as Sonya Stowe has done.
Enfield Enterprise offer a range of 1 day workshops covering all aspects of setting up in business, from an overview to specific workshops on business taxation and marketing. This enables women thinking about setting up in business to focus on the areas they need to develop without committing to an extensive course. Enfield Enterprise also have local links to organizations which may be able to assist with funding for candidates living in the Enfield area
The College of North East London (CONEL) is offer the opportunity of studying a childcare qualification. We are currently recruiting to The CACHE diploma starting in April 2009. On Completion the CACHE diploma will give candidates the opportunity to work In childcare, in pre school or nurseries.
Genskill Ltd provide business support and mentoring. As a female led business they are well placed to know and understand the issues candidates may face when setting up in business and they work closely with candidates to overcome these barriers.
The Enterprise on Track project has been instrumental in helping female entrepreneurs set up in business which will have far reaching themes in terms of the improved health and wellbeing of the general population.
Useful resources
There a variety of other free or inexpensive resources available to anyone wishing to set up in business there are listed in the resource section.