recent releases from Leicester Shire Development Agency, Business Link for Leicestershire and Business Link Lincolnshire & Rutland
	14 June 2002 NEWS RELEASE SOCIAL INCLUSION In its business plan for 2002/3, Business Link for Leicestershire accentuates social inclusion and partnership with organisations and communities. Working with groups representing ethnic minority businesses and communities in Leicester and Leicestershire, three significant joint initiatives have been successfully put into place. One driver for these projects is research data suggesting some ethnic minority-owned businesses are more likely to use business support services if they are delivered through their own communities. 1. Asian businesses will benefit from a new specialist business support team. Two specialists - funded and supported by Business Link with the assistance of the European Regional Development Fund - will be based at Leicestershire Asian Business Association's headquarters and will offer support to the Asian Business Community. 2. A similar project is already underway with Leicester African Caribbean Business Association, and is proving to be very successful. The specialists develop and deliver services for new and existing businesses, including business advice and workshops to the African Caribbean business community. 3. A manager from Business Link has been seconded to help Belgrave Baheno, an Asian women's organisation in one of Leicester's most deprived wards, to build a £14 million social and enterprise centre with Millennium Commission funding. The centre will incorporate a specific Enterprise Zone. All the programmes are part of ongoing efforts to forge closer partnerships with organisations covering Leicestershire's diverse business community and to deliver business support to all areas of the community. More information is available from Mike Jewitt, operations director, Business Link for Leicestershire (0116 254 9944 or www.leicestershire.businesslink.co.uk) Ends For further Media Information CONTACT Duncan Hopwood on 0116 254 4472
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