SFEDI NEWS
The latest news and updates from SFEDI.
Enterprise Week 2008
Enterprise Week (17-23 November 2008), part of Global Entrepreneurship Week, is a national celebration of enterprise with thousands of events and activities happening across the UK. Last year there were over 5,000 events and more than half a million people took part!
SFEDI / NFEA Enabling Enterprise Report
This report is the result of a seminar at the NFEA National Conference held in York on 9-10 September 2008 which brought together over 140 delegates from leading enterprise agencies and other organisations in the wider business support sector around the country. It was facilitated by Tony Robinson OBE of SFEDI, the standards setting body for enterprise, entrepreneurship and business support.
Big is Bust: Micro is Mega
Where the jobs and growth will come from - Tony Robinson OBE
Happy Small Business Week!
SFEDI would like to wish all small businesses a very happy Small Business Week.
How to be a Brilliant Community Based Business Adviser
How to be a Brilliant Community Based Business Adviser, a unique and exciting reference guide for new professionals is launched on Thursday 13 November 2008.
Business Enterprise and Business Support Qualification Strategy Consultation
SFEDI has released its first draft of the Business Enterprise and Business Support Qualification Strategy and are currently seeking comments.
SFEDI Chair to lead session at Social Enterprise Coalition Event
New SFEDI Chair, Elsa Caleb, will be leading one of the break-out sessions at the upcoming 'Business of Opportunity and Empowerment' event at London's Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Elsa Caleb Appointed New Chair of SFEDI
Elsa Caleb has been appointed Chair of SFEDI, the UK’s leading enterprise development and support organisation. In her new role, she will work with Managing Director Nat Hardwick to develop the support offered by SFEDI to prospective and new businesses across the UK, both through its regional network of SFEDI Centres of Excellence and its accredited advisors. Elsa has a particular focus on supporting the development of social enterprise in the UK.
SFEDI Announce New ICT Partnership at BAFTA
SFEDI announced at the UK Enterprise Awards 2008 that Redstone plc would become SFEDI¹s exclusive ICT Partner, building on Redstone's expertise & understanding of the IT & Communication needs of the SME business community for over 20 years.
Competitive Edge for Business Growth
Join a London Development Agency and Enterprise Enfield flagship programme to support potential High Growth businesses by working in partnership with a successful CEO and providing a solid business support framework.
First National SFEDI Enterprise Trainers
SFEDI are pleased to announce our very first ‘Enterprise Trainer’ accreditations. Following a successful pilot by our Centre of Excellence in the East Midlands, EMQC, Susan Hallam and John Owens have become the first in the country to achieve the SFEDI/ILM Enterprise Trainer Award.
InBiz Founder Terry Owens Wins Overall Champion Enterprise Supporter Award at 2008 Enterprise Support Awards
Terry Owens, founder of InBiz, which helps individuals and groups to develop enterprise skills, was judged 2008 Overall Champion Enterprise Supporter at the SFEDI Advisory Body’s Enterprise Support Awards on 17 April 2008.
SFEDI research highlights entrepreneur preferences for ‘informal’ skills development and business support
UK entrepreneurs and business owners believe they and their peers are their own best teachers when it comes to developing enterprise skills according to a study from SFEDI, which researches the needs of entrepreneurs and sets standards for training and support. They also cited ‘managing cash flow’ and ‘winning new customers’ as the most difficult challenges they faced. The launch of the findings coincides with a mixed response from SFEDI to the Government’s Enterprise Strategy unveiled yesterday.
Business Enterprise and Business Support Report Released
Research for this report was conducted during September 2007 to January 2008 with financial support from the Sector Skills Development Agency. The work was led by SFEDI directors with support from GoSkills. The research was undertaken by Stratagia, Vector Research and the Wood Holmes Group. The report does not necessarily reflect the views of SFEDI. It is presented as a contribution to the development of a Qualification Strategy for business enterprise and business support
‘Apprentice’ Tim Campbell to present key award at 2008 UK Enterprise Support Awards
Former ‘Apprentice’ Tim Campbell is the latest high profile name to support the 2008 UK Enterprise Support Awards to be held in April at BAFTA and hosted by the SFEDI Advisory Board.
Leading Government Enterprise Advisors Show Support for Sean Taggart and Describe Government Policy for Small Business Owners as Discriminatory
Two small business owners who have been leading enterprise advisers to Government; Tony Robinson OBE, founder of SFEDI, the business enterprise training and support standards setting body, and Elsa Caleb, director of SFEDI and former member of the government’s Small Business Council, have expressed support for Sean Taggart, managing director of Kent-based Albatross Travel. Mr Taggart has just resigned from the Department for Business and Regulatory Reform's (DBERR’s) Small Business Forum, claiming that the voice of small business has been ‘neutered’ in Whitehall.
BusinessZone Sponsors the SFEDI BAFTAs
We're pleased to announce our new media sponsors for next year's 2008 National Business Support Awards as BusinessZone.co.uk.
An Innovative Programme for Social Enterprise
The University of Derby and EMQC Ltd are offering a unique integrated Social Enterprise programme, specifically developed to provide common language and foundations for social enterprise development.
RISE 'SFEDI' Bursary heralded a success
The provision of high quality business advice to social enterprises throughout the region is a priority for RISE. To help this to happen, RISE set-up a bursary scheme for social enterprise advisors to benefit from a 50% discount on the price of being SFEDI assessed and accredited. RISE is supporting 22 advisors to get quality approved through the scheme which opened in 2006. The bursary, which supports advisors with the costs of being SFEDI assessed, was a limited opportunity and all funds have now been committed.
SFEDI Opens New Offices
We're pleased to announce the opening of our new central office in Newton Aycliffe.
Related Information:
- Centre News
- Read the latest news and announcements from our nationwide network of centres.

