Sponsorship bid as support group gets company status
A VOLUNTEER organisation which supports the business community has become a Community Interest Company to allow it to help more firms.
Enterprising Macclesfield is a volunteer-led scheme established in 2015 which provides free business coaching, access to advice from local businesses and help with funding and further support and training for commercial and social enterprises.
Clients already helped by the scheme include an online estate agency, a financial services firm, a fitness company and a wild food foraging business.
Now the group has announced the next phase of its development by establishing an independent Community Interest Company (CIC), supported by Macclesfield MP, David Rutley, as an Honorary Patron.
This will allow it to seek sponsorship from local businesses and expand the work it does.
Tim Shercliff, chairman of Enterprising Macclesfield, said at the launch of the sponsorship scheme: “We are very grateful to Make it Macclesfield and Macclesfield Town Council for playing such a key role in funding and supporting the organisation to reach this stage and encouraging the delivery of this important service to the community.
“In establishing Enterprising Macclesfield as an independent Community Interest Company, we now need to build on that support to enable us to meet the continuing demand and expand our services.
“That is why we are launching a sponsorship scheme aimed at local businesses to secure our future funding.”
Enterprising Macclesfield has been funded through the Make it Macclesfield initiative and Macclesfield Town Council, which will remain patrons. Since its launch it has grown to have a pool of 17 volunteer coaches and 16 local advisory partners. It has had more than 120 requests for help from Macclesfield businesses.
David Rutley MP said: “This is an excellent opportunity to capitalise on the success that Enterprising Macclesfield has already had in promoting our town as a great place to do business.
“I would encourage the local business community to take advantage of the opportunities that the new CIC presents, and I will continue to actively work with Enterprising Macclesfield in my role as an Honorary Patron and as the local Member of Parliament as they enter this exciting new phase.”