KICKSTART MENTOR PROVISION

Tender description

Mid and East Antrim’s Corporate Plan places ‘Growing the Economy’ as a key strategic priority for the period 2015 – 2019. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is committed to creating conditions, which attract inward investment, support sustainable employment, boost the growth of existing businesses and promotes entrepreneurship and innovation. A priority of Amplify the Integrated Economic Development Strategy for Mid and East Antrim is ‘Enterprise and Entrepreneurship’ – encouraging more start-ups and growing SMEs. Encouraging enterprise and increasing business registration rates is a key priority of Amplify. Mid & East Antrim has seen a reduction in its business base in recent years, falling by 4% over the last decade. In 2017, Mid and East Antrim had 552 businesses per 10,000 working age population, which was lower than the equivalent figures for both Northern Ireland (604) and the UK (609). It has been recognised within Amplify that increasing registrations will require targeted action. It is necessary that a culture of enterprise is created within the education system and local economy coupled with the support to nurture new business ventures. The Council now wishes to establish a Kickstart Mentoring Programme to support start-up businesses within the Mid & East Antrim Borough and is therefore seeking to appoint a suitable delivery agent (s) to undertake the mentoring element of the programme.