Graduate Helps Social Enterprise Secure Future Funding

BES Kwan Cheung and Gemma Walford 300px A social enterprise which helps business start-ups across the West Midlands is now more confident than ever that its future funding is secure thanks to the marketing efforts of a graduate intern.

Business Enterprise Support (BES), based in Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, was at risk of losing vital funding if the organisation failed to market its services in the areas covered by its new contract.

The not-for-profit organisation won the Ready for Business contract in partnership with National Enterprise Network (NEN) and Barclays.

The contract provides funding to BES to help anyone looking to start a business in Telford, Worcester, Tamworth and Coventry, as well as Walsall and Wolverhampton where the organisation had not previously worked.

BES hired business graduate Kwan Cheung, 26, on a six-month marketing internship organised in partnership with Keele University’s Graduate Internships scheme to reinvent the organisation’s marketing strategy before being made the permanent Marketing Manager.

“We had highlighted a gap in terms of knowledge in our existing team around marketing and promotion due to changes in the way our organisation is now funded,” BES Operations and Finance Director Gemma Walford said.

“Without this role fulfilled we were at risk of losing out on funds. We had just been awarded a new contract to deliver start up support in geographical locations we hadn’t operated in before so it was vital that we were able to promote the service.

“Kwan has increased our awareness of social media and its benefits, as well as training staff on how to use it effectively. We now have over 2,500 Twitter followers and increased awareness of our services in all delivery locations which has led to an increase in referrals.”

Kwan graduated in 2008 from the University of Durham Business School.

“Trying to change people’s habits was the hardest part. BES is quite well established so it was hard to get people used to doing something new and start heading in a different direction with the marketing strategy, especially in areas such as social networking,” he said.

“It took some time to show people the benefits of social media, but now they are confident in promoting their projects and events online. It’s important to shout about what we do and get people involved.”

For more information about the Keele University Graduate Internships scheme, which is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund, please call 01782 733403 or e-mail: internships@keele.ac.uk

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