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Company: Venture to Think
Project: Enterprise Catalyst
http://www.enterprisecatalyst.co.uk
Dates: Mar 2007 to Mar 2008
How did the project start?
The project started in response to the desire of many younger people to understand how their attitudes and personality had an impact upon their success in life, whether they are seeking to set up their own business, get a job or continue in further and higher education.
We knew that motivation and self-belief were important in determining whether or not young people were successful, so we decided to provide an initial insight into how and what could be done to improve life chances.
What options did you consider?
We have always recognised that the internet is a media younger people are very comfortable with. In addition by answering questions online and undergoing a process of self-awareness raising we take away the barriers many younger people experience when they are required to talk about themselves in public. The Enterprise Catalyst provides an opportunity for a younger person to learn about themselves, and gain a 'friendly' insight into some of the more formal assessments they are liable to face as they continue through life. For example should they be seeking employment, they will be faced with a variety of assessment tools.
An important feature is the ability of younger people to win an ipod nano - quite an attraction.
What help and expertise did you receive?
Whilst we had the online and psychology expertise we recognised the major help we could get was from younger people themselves. How do you write feedback that a 16 year old will read and at least consider? How did we design a website that looks professional, whilst at the same time appealing to a younger audience?
Did you face any challenges or learn any lessons?
I think the major learning is all to do with the popularity of the Enterprise Catalyst web site. Over 10,000 younger people across the North East of England have completed the Enterprise Catalyst, and we believe it has made a difference to many of those who took time to print off their personalised reports and consider the implications of the personalised coaching they were given.
The second major lesson surrounded how valuable the data base of attitudes towards enterprise was to us. We now know how enterprising thousands of younger people are and what barriers they believe they need to overcome if they are to succeed in life.
What are the outcomes and how has it improved your business?
We have learned a great deal about how to create profiling and coaching tools that add value to younger people, whilst at the same time enabling us to provide very valuable feedback to the providers of enterprise support.
What are your plans for the future?
We are interested in developing ways in which more organisations seeking to work with younger people in the promotion of enterprise, learning and employability can make even greater use of the Enterprise Catalyst.
Readers Comments
atomic66
Wed 26 Mar, 2008 - 21:26:42
Great site!
Claire Glynn”