EVJ Aspire CIC | A Thriving Social Economy Business in Tameside

As part of our work in developing social economy businesses in Tameside, we spotlight EVJ Aspire CIC who have reaped the benefits of working closely with Action Together’s Development Worker, Jonathan King and through the support of the Our Business Programme

Header Aspire Blog

EVJ Aspire CIC focus on nurturing young people’s strengths to pave the way for successful outcomes in employment, education, and adulthood.

They identified a need for supporting young women facing various disadvantages that prevent them from accessing education or receiving social and emotional support. It was a model they had been working on for over 12 months, using their experience working in further education for adult students. They had prepared their project and started working with some young women. However, an issue was confidence in the business planning and financial forecasting which would ensure growth and sustainability. 

Aspire CIC Group

Support Action Together provided: 

  • Emily Milner | Managing Director, worked with our Community Development Worker, Jonathan King to devise a plan of action.
  • Jonathan undertook a Social Enterprise Health Check, which formed the basis of a support plan, formulated to ensure that their vision and the needs of their community were clearly explained and promoted to larger service providers they were meeting with.
  • The development of a business plan and corporate strategy, ensured their work is purposeful, sustainable, and impactful. They can now show funders, partners, and the community that they have a well-defined vision, a roadmap to achieve it, and the ability to manage resources effectively.
  • Through the Our Business Programme, Action Together matched Emily with an expert business mentor, to support her with business planning. 

The results of this support included: 

  • Receiving Tameside Communities Funding
  • Securing a premises, where their business can reach their target students and serve the community
  • Recruitment of a staff team and creating an apprentice opportunity who is now studying Level 3 Youth Mentorship
  • Due to commissioning they have received from TMBC and local schools, they have been able to use their surplus to grow and bring more young people into vocational education classes and bring forward their future plans to expand their work with more members of the community.

Emily reflects on the support she has received from Action Together:

 “Overall, I cannot thank Action Together and Jonathan enough. Without them, none of this would be possible. We've been able to make a huge impact on Tameside’s young people and their families in such a short space of time, truly making a difference that can positively change lives.” 

Emily Milner | Managing Director, EVJ Aspire CIC

 

If you would like to find our more, we have a dedicated page with support and training information and updates: Support for Social Economy Organisations in Tameside

You can also contact the team: development@actiontogether.org.uk