1. COPIE 2 Access to Finance Peter Ramsden Frez Ltd

2. Four COPs Enterprise education Quality Standards Coaching and mentoring Access to finance

3. Why look at finance Financial literacy and capability – few people understand complex financial products Obtaining capital was hard even before the credit crunch because of high transaction costs for low loan volumes There are many barriers which cause financial exclusion for key groups Right to open an account when not a citizen People who are banned from banking People who do not have a stable address

4. Jasmine one of the actions announced in the Communication on the development of micro-finance in Europe adopted by the European Commission in November 2007 (see IP/07/1713). Start 2009 with a pilot phase lasting for three years. start-up capital of €50 million. The European Commission and the EIF will contribute resources available under the cohesion policy and funds made available by the EIB/EIF Group and other financial partners

5. Quality management The problem Business support is a new discipline which is not yet professionalised, quality systems are weak Goal: to ensure that all support systems for entrepreneurs are both high quality and inclusive through development of adequate policies, structures and processes Specifically through accreditation of advisers and schemes

6. Knowledge and experience base for advisers Access to finance Regional and local environment (institutions, conditions etc.) Cross-sectorial competencies (law, marketing, finance...) Methodology knowledge ICT Business experience Working with people and advising experience

7. Skills of the adviser Information/ networking Project management Analytic skills Social competence Empathy, Ability to listen, Communication, Self reflection, Team-working, Business-financial planning Pedagogical skills

8. Approach of the adviser Pro-activeness Personal commitment (self motivation) Curiosity Open-mindedness (no barriers) Oriented towards customers Aligned with customer Objective/ honest/ realistic Confidence

9. Quality innovations in EQUAL Extensive work in UK by Small Firms Enterprise Development Initiative Work in Germany by IQ consult Extension of accreditation to community based business advisers Interesting experiments around voucher schemes for accredited advisers.

10. Coaching and mentoring One to One approaches identified by EQUAL as key to helping disadvantaged groups to be successful in enterprise Mentoring is normally a voluntary activity where a more experienced (business) person helps a newcomer Coaching is a method of directing, instructing and training a person or group of people, with the aim to achieve some goal or develop specific skills.

11. Why focus on coaching and mentoring Both coaching and mentoring are under explored They basis for intensive approaches to enterprise support Mentoring offers significant cost savings Both focus on the missing link in connecting the development of the person as a means to developing the enterprise

12. Innovations from EQUAL Embedded coaches in refugee communities in North London (Reflex/SIED) Outreach to established migrant businesses by EVU in Copenhagen Increased understanding of issues around inter-cultural understanding in the client-adviser relationship (EVU, ADIE)

13. A formal learning and exchange methodology Communities of practice Baseline studies Exchange of experience Transfer of practice Implant in regions through action plans Supported by informal peer to peer learning and support

15. Thankyou! peterramsden2@gmail.com http://wikipreneurship.eu