A NEW scheme to help entrepreneurs in Evesham overcome barriers to starting and growing businesses has been launched by the University of Worcester.
The project, developed by researchers at its business school, aims to address longstanding challenges faced by migrant entrepreneurs, including difficulties accessing support, navigating systems and building trust in institutions.
Dr Laila Kasem, who specialises in ethnic minority and refugee entrepreneurship, said the programme is a direct response to research highlighting gaps in support and ensures communities in Worcestershire directly benefit from its impact.
“We want our research to make a real difference in people’s lives. We know there is a huge amount of entrepreneurial potential, but many people face barriers in accessing the support that is available.
“Our aim is to work with entrepreneurs themselves to understand those barriers and design something that truly works for them,” Dr Kasem said.
The university is working with partners including Worcestershire Growth Hub and Evesham Place Board to deliver the project, with a focus on engaging entrepreneurs from the town’s Polish business community.
At an event held in Evesham on Monday (June 29) at The Gallery Properties in High Street, brought local business owners together to share their experiences and highlight the barriers they face in starting and growing an enterprise.
“The idea is to listen first,” said Dr Kasem. “We want to understand their pain points, whether that’s navigating the legal system, accessing funding, or simply understanding how things work here, and then we can co-create solutions with them.”
Phil Maclean, chair of Evesham Place Board, thought the project could play a key role in supporting the future of Evesham’s high street.
“We’ve got some fantastic businesses here already,” he said. “Take them away and the town would really struggle. What we need to do now is create an environment where more entrepreneurs feel confident to invest and succeed.”
He added that many businesses are held back because of the complexity of systems and a lack of awareness of available support.
“Even for people already in business, funding and support systems can be difficult to navigate,” he said. “So, for someone who is new to the country or system, it can be a real barrier. This project is about breaking down those barriers.”
By combining research with partnership working and directly engaging with entrepreneurs, the university hopes to demonstrate the impact that research can have on communities.
Dr Laila Kasem said: “This is about translating research into a really meaningful impact.
“If we can help businesses survive and grow, that has a ripple effect. It can create jobs, it can strengthen communities and it can contribute to local economies.”
Visit worcester.ac.uk or or telephone 01905 855111 for more information.
