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English and French housing associations launch £8.6m fund to help tenants start businesses
Housing associations in England and France have launched a multimillion pound programme to help social housing residents set up their own businesses.
Ten associations and training providers on both sides of the Channel are taking part in the £8.6m project, called Increase Valorisation Sociale (Increase VS).
It will train 4,000 unemployed people over three years, teaching them skills such as managing their finances and trialling business ideas.
The project is being led by Croydon-based Optivo and will include UK housing associations Clarion and Radian, as well as incorporating research by the University of East Anglia.
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It is the first project of its kind tailored specifically for social housing residents and communities.
Increase VS will operate across 38 neighbourhoods on the south and east coasts of England from Cornwall to Norfolk, and the north coast of France from Brittany to Pas-de-Calais, all of which have above-average unemployment.
- Lead partner: Optivo (UK)
- Clarion Housing Group (UK)
- Radian Housing (UK)
- Société Anonyme d’habitations à Loyer Modère Logement et Gestion Immobilière Pour La Région Parisienne-Loire (France)
- University of East Anglia (UK)
- Maison de l’Emploi, de l’Insertion et de la Formation du Bassin d’Emploi de Rennes (France)
- Archipel Habitat: Office Public de l’Habitat de Rennes Métropole (France)
- NEOTOA (France)
- Impact Network/Le Comptoir de l’Innovation (France)
- Pas-de-Calais habitat (France)
It is hoped that the project will create up to 1,200 new businesses and help a further 2,000 people into jobs.
Participants will learn all the necessary skills to launch their own businesses, including how to trial and market-test business ideas and how to manage their finances, a statement announcing the launch said.
It aims to create a “sustainable pipeline of micro-enterprises” in each area, with “community ambassadors” appointed to work in each neighbourhood.
These ambassadors will provide ongoing support to the businesses and engage future participants.
William Miller, community development director at Optivo, said the association was “delighted” to lead the project and that it had been trialling similar training for its residents for two years.
“The Increase VS project is a brilliant opportunity to take this to the next level,” he said.
The project will be co-funded by the Interreg France (Channel) England programme, with a European Regional Development Fund budget of £5.9m.
