Welcome to our archive of news, with an extensive list of all news items from YTKO. We’re including all our success stories, news and views.
December 16, 2011
YTKO CEO strikes a chord at the 2011 Regent’s Lecture
Director General of the CBI, John Cridland, John Taylor, Chief Executive of Acas and Sir John Gieve, former Deputy Governor for Financial Stability at the Bank of England, were joined by YTKO CEO Bev Hurley recently at the 2011 Regent’s Lecture in London, to debate ‘Business at the crossroads: UK issues in a European and global economy’.
November 30, 2011
YTKO to deliver Kauffmann FastTrac® enterprise learning in the UK
Award winning enterprise support consultancy YTKO is working with the Kauffman Foundation, to deliver its innovative FastTrac® enterprise learning and business growth programmes across the UK.
November 29, 2011
Supporting private sector growth
One of YTKO’s new private sector clients is EL-BO, a company with expertise in the rapidly growing market of composite materials.
November 25, 2011
One size does not fit all – unlocking the growth potential of female entrepreneurship
For more than a decade, YTKO and its not-for-profit spinout, Enterprising Women, have highlighted the importance of women’s businesses to the UK economy. It is an agenda that has never been more relevant than in the current economic climate.
November 23, 2011
Life since redundancy: on track for the first £1million
Two years ago, Outset client Tony Sampson was dealing with redundancy. Today, he owns and runs his own business, has already launched a sister company, created 10 new jobs and is forecasting a turnover of almost £1million in 2012.
November 20, 2011
Celebrating Outset Torbay’s newest businesses
Business support organisation Outset Torbay has marked it’s first birthday with a celebratory event. Both guests and entrepreneurs attended the celebration, where it was announced that 50 new businesses have launched through the programme during its first year.
November 17, 2011
YTKO CEO joins the Board of the Institute of Economic Development
YTKO CEO Bev Hurley has been elected to the Board of the Institute of Economic Development (IED) at the organisation’s annual AGM in London.
November 10, 2011
Lord Mayor helps to mark Outset Bristol’s first anniversary
Bristol’s newest businesses came together to mark the first birthday of local business support organisation Outset Bristol. More than 90 guests attended the celebration, which was supported by keynote speaker The Right Honourable The Lord Mayor of Bristol.
October 25, 2011
Clients take off after Come Fly With Us conference
To celebrate the new businesses launched via the Outset programme – and to offer specific post-start-up support to those clients nearing, or post, launch – Outset Cornwall held a special conference. ‘Come Fly With Us’ offered a range of workshops and speakers designed to motivate, inspire and facilitate the growth of these fledgling businesses.
October 18, 2011
PRESS RELEASE: Leading female entrepreneurs appointed as UK Ambassadors
Fifty of the country’s exceptional female entrepreneurs have been appointed as UK ambassadors for a new programme that seeks to inspire more women to get involved in enterprise.
September 16, 2011
Coalition business support policy: what women don’t need
As part of the government’s wider strategy to win back support from female voters, a policy document leaked earlier this week made mention of women in business as a target for government action, but failed to highlight any sensible courses of action to enhance support for women entrepreneurs.
September 12, 2011
Bev Hurley debate piece in ISBE
An article written by Bev Hurley, CEO of YTKO, has been featured as the debate piece for the latest issue of Enterprising Matters, ISBE’s quarterly e-magazine.
September 1, 2011
PRESS RELEASE: Public-spirited bosses help jobless create jobs
A new government scheme that offers six months of financial support to help the jobless become self-employed, is asking local bosses across Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire to volunteer their knowledge of starting up and managing small enterprises.
BME community displays entrepreneurial flair
Outset Bristol is a great example of how YTKO has successfully engaged with people from black and minority ethnic (BME) backgrounds. More than 41% of the people enrolled on the programme come from BME backgrounds, despite only making up 12% of the Bristol population.
August 25, 2011
Europe 2020 initiative needs to address enterprise
Europe 2020, the EU’s strategy for economic growth, has recognised the need to keep employment rates high if Europe is to cope with its ageing population. The strategy contains a headline target of achieving a 75% employment rate for those aged 20-64 by 2020.
August 22, 2011
Latest unemployment figures prompt debate for self-employment
According to the latest Office for National Statistics figures, the number of people working part-time because they could not find a full-time job increased to reach a record 1.26 million in the three months to the end of June. This is the highest figure since records began.
July 12, 2011
UK business support agenda ignores enterprise gender gap
The current government’s strategy for economic growth has entered phase two, in which there is “one central purpose – creating the right conditions for business to start up, invest, grow and create jobs,” said Business Secretary Vince Cable, at the launch of the second round of the Growth Review.
July 5, 2011
Press release: BEV HURLEY HONOURED AT FIRST WOMEN AWARDS
Eleven pioneering British women honoured at the 2011 First Women Awards ceremony on 30 June in London, hosted by BBC sports presenter Clare Balding.
July 3, 2011
Unlocking women’s potential: specialist enterprise support
That our enterprise support programmes attract a high proportion of women is no coincidence. Having been actively involved with women’s entrepreneurship for over five years, we’ve picked up and developed extensive expertise along the way.
July 1, 2011
Enterprise mentoring programme a success
All of YTKO’s programmes are success stories, and Outset Norfolk is no exception. Having exceeded interim targets throughout the entire programme, and with more clients taking the leap into self-employment with each week that passes, there’s an extremely positive outlook for the Norfolk business landscape.
June 24, 2011
MEPs visit Outset Bristol
Last week Outset Bristol hosted a delegation of six MEPs from around the European Union, keen to see the how the £1m project is helping to develop enterprise aspirations with people from all backgrounds across the city.
June 13, 2011
Reflecting on Outset Cornwall’s first 18 months
As the very first ERDF-funded programme of its kind anywhere in the UK, the idea of incubated intensive business start-up support for some of the most under-represented, and disadvantaged groups in the Cornish community was met by some with scepticism, a real sense of distrust and even disbelief. Eighteen months on, Kate McEwen reflects on Outset Cornwall’s achievements so far…
June 12, 2011
Bev Hurley named on shortlist of national awards
It has been announced that YTKO CEO and recent Queen’s Award winner Bev Hurley has been shortlisted in the Business Services category at the 2011 First Women Awards.
June 11, 2011
Outset Torbay unlocks enterprise potential
YTKO’s Outset team in Torbay are a prime example of the great lengths we will go to in order to ensure that people can access the support they need to start a business or become self-employed.
June 5, 2011
YTKO consults on large-scale international women’s employment projects
Owing to the success of our flagship Enterprising Women community, YTKO has recently secured two successful EuropeAid bids to become a support partner for large women employment projects in Croatia and Turkey.
May 26, 2011
CEO Bev Hurley shortlisted for national and regional awards
Serial entrepreneur and Queen’s Award winner Bev Hurley has been shortlisted for the Business Services category as part of the national First Women Awards, and for East of England Businesswoman of the year.
Role models sought for UK Women’s Entrepreneurship Ambassadors
Press release:
The UKFEA is a brand new ambassadors programme to inspire more women across the UK to get involved in enterprise. It is now seeking female champions from a wide range of business backgrounds to share their experiences, and spread their entrepreneurial passion to the next generation of female entrepreneurs.
May 20, 2011
Television debut for Outset Norfolk
Outset Norfolk was commissioned to provide enterprise support to under-represented groups in Norfolk. At just over half way through the project, we have helped almost 200 people to explore the benefits of enterprise, 15 of which have so far started up businesses, with many more preparing for self-employment.
April 7, 2011
YTKO invited to deliver custom enterprise training courses
Following the success of the training courses delivered as part of the acclaimed Yorkshire Enterprise Fellowship (YEF) programme, YTKO has been invited to deliver a series of specialist enterprise training for academics.
April 4, 2011
Outset Finance gets a mention on BBC News!
As part of its Money Matters roadshow, BBC News interviewed Outset Finance advisor Rob Guy to find out about free financial advice available in Plymouth.
March 29, 2011
Enterprising Women leads consortium for UK Women’s Enterprise Ambassador Programme
Enterprising Women is leading a new ambassador programme, working in partnership with the Institute of Directors, Her Business and Forward Ladies, to inspire more women across the UK to get involved in enterprise.
March 16, 2011
Outset Norfolk set to exceed business start-up targets
Outset Norfolk is set to meet and exceed its goal to increase the county’s business start-up rate. After a successful mentor recruitment period, Outset began offering enterprise coaching and mentoring support in January. So far, the team have engaged with over 200 people, exceeding targets three-fold. Of these, 82 have already received at least 2 hours’ mentoring or support – eight times higher than targets set for the programme at this stage.
March 8, 2011
Press release: Tailored support for women entrepreneurs unlocks growth
Research suggests that supporting female entrepreneurs to address barriers to growth would stimulate the creation of thousands of private sector jobs and provide a much-needed revenue boost for the UK economy.
February 18, 2011
Bev Hurley talks best practice at international women’s conference
Invited as guest speaker on behalf of SELENA (the Association of Women Entrepreneurs in Bulgaria), Bev Hurley, YTKO’s Chief Executive and Founder of the Enterprising Women network, addressed an international audience at the Second International Forum of Women Entrepreneurs in Bulgaria.
February 13, 2011
New Enterprise Allowance not for Work Programme participants
The New Enterprise Allowance is initially only available in areas that face the greatest unemployment challenge, to JSA customers who have been claiming for more than six months. But if people choose this route, they can’t also go on the Work Programme.
“Hard to reach”? Not in our experience…
Labelling clients as ‘hard to reach’ is a lazy and simplistic approach that implicitly typecasts them further as resistant to engagement, and no desire or ability to change their lives.
Redundancies pose threat to local communities
The British Chambers of Commerce are predicting an increase in unemployment levels by 100,000 during this year. Unable to stimulate job creation even before the impact of public spending cuts, hopes for the UK’s private sector offsetting large redundancies in the public sector are fading fast.
January 26, 2011
UK cities vulnerable
A recent report from the research institute, Centre for Cities, suggests that the UK’s economic recovery will be unevenly spread, and calls on government support to help create new jobs in cities hardest hit by job losses.
Developing BaME business
Such a broad descriptor as ‘BaME’ covers a multitude of different enterprise development needs and circumstances. The ethnic penalty that many such groups suffer in employment represents a real source of economic potential through enterprise development with a tailored and client focused approach.
January 6, 2011
New Enterprise Allowance provides additional boost for start-ups
David Cameron’s recent unveiling of plans to introduce a New Enterprise Allowance (NEA) demonstrates a shift in the coalition’s focus from the public deficit and spending cuts, towards economic growth. Recognising the vast untapped entrepreneurial potential of those unemployed, the government is injecting £50m to offer financial support to people entering self-employment, with up to £2,000 worth of funding and mentoring available for the first 6 months of running a business.
December 6, 2010
Unlocking women’s enterprise growth potential
Enterprising Women’s High Growth programme for women who are ambitious to expand their business turnover and profitability, and increase their leadership and management skills, is underway in Cornwall.
Outset Norfolk engages local businesses to deliver start-up support
The latest addition to YTKO’s Outset family of start-up support programmes, Outset Norfolk, is engaging the local business community to deliver start-up coaching and mentoring to hopeful entrepreneurs interested in starting up a business.
November 26, 2010
Outset start-up programmes active in support of Global Entrepreneurship Week
Global Entrepreneurship Week, which took place between 15-21st November, is the world’s largest movement celebrating enterprise. During this year’s awareness week, YTKO’s regional Outset start-up programmes were busy supporting local entrepreneurs …
November 1, 2010
Outset ‘family’ sees two new self-employment initiatives launch in South West
YTKO has secured over £2.8 million funding to deliver Intensive Start-up Support and Enterprise Coaching in Bristol and Torbay. The funding will to help create new businesses and new jobs, supporting economic growth in the South West, thanks to funding from the European Regional Development Fund, the South West Regional Development Agency, and Torbay and Bristol councils.
October 4, 2010
Women’s business centre represents UK Best Practice
Peterborough Women’s Enterprise Centre (PWEC) was presented as an example of UK Best Practice to an international audience at the Scottish Parliament on 30th September, as part of the European WINNET 8 programme promoting gender equality.
September 20, 2010
Yorkshire science innovation success – from academics to entrepreneurs…
This summer, 65 academic and clinical researchers completed their training on YTKO’s £2.3m Yorkshire Enterprise Fellowship programme, funded by Yorkshire Forward.
September 17, 2010
Outset Herts launches its Intensive Start-up Support programme, assisting jobless into self-employment
Outset Herts has launched its extensive programme, offering free start-up support for people not in work who are interested to learn more about starting up their own business.
September 1, 2010
YTKO’s CEO Bev Hurley appointed as Chair of East of England Tourism
East of England Tourism has announced the appointment of Bev Hurley to the position of Chair with effect from 1st September 2010, following the retirement of former Chair Dr Derek Langslow after four and a half years in the role.
August 31, 2010
YTKO-sponsored Cornwall HUB awards celebrates all things business!
YTKO is proud to sponsor the sixth annual Hub awards, in recognition of the value of the Hub’s support for local innovation and enterprise in Cornwall.
June 8, 2010
Celebrating innovation success in Yorkshire
The Yorkshire Enterprise Fellowship is marking the end of a successful flagship programme with a Summer Showcase at Harewood House on the 10th of June.
April 21, 2010
Queen Honours YTKO Chief Executive Bev Hurley
YTKO is proud to announce that Bev Hurley, our Chief Executive, has been honoured on the 2010 Queen’s Birthday Honours List, and presented with the Queens Award for Enterprise Promotion.
April 19, 2010
300 new Cornish entrepreneurs on the way!
Outset Cornwall, the successful start-up support service for Cornish entrepreneurs, has marked its first 6 months by announcing 22 new business already started and over 25 jobs created – and 300 other potential entrepreneurs engaged in the programme.
March 8, 2010
Peterborough Women’s Enterprise Centre launches today
The doors of the UK’s second Women’s Business Centre are officially opened to support Peterborough’s aspiring entrepreneurs and women-owned businesses.
February 10, 2010
New contract win for start-up support in Plymouth
YTKO’s successful contract award to deliver a new intensive start-up support service for under-represented enterprise groups in the City launches today.
February 1, 2010
Groundbreaking Medical Product, ShieldAll™, Reaches the Market
A recent innovation from Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has reached the market, with support from Medipex Ltd and the Yorkshire Enterprise Fellowship (YEF). ShieldAll™ is a bespoke patient radiation protection device for use during CT scans, which has significant benefits for patient safety and staff handling.
January 15, 2010
Funding Success for Yorkshire Enterprise Fellow
Groundbreaking research into the extraction and use of natural dyes by a scientist and Yorkshire Enterprise Fellow from the University of Leeds has successfully won substantial further funding to explore commercial uses.
November 25, 2009
Yorkshire Enterprise Fellowship celebrates the success of its members
The Yorkshire Enterprise Fellowship (YEF) scheme held a black-tie Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony on Thursday 26th November at the Met Hotel Leeds. The event celebrated the outstanding achievements of YEF fellows in commercialising their ground breaking academic research, and was hosted by Professor Anthony Robards, OBE.
November 15, 2009
YTKO-managed Enterprise Fellowship supports first company – mimicking body’s defences to detect disease
An innovative new company, Aptuscan, is developing a unique technique to diagnose diseases at their earliest stage, hopefully leading to greater success rates in treatment.
June 1, 2009
Cornwall contracts YTKO for major European-funded business collaboration project
YTKO, the UK economic and business development company, has been appointed by the South West Regional Development Agency to set-up and manage a new business collaboration network serving the county of Cornwall and the Scilly Isles.
YTKO wins second £2.2m project to support new entrepreneurs
A £2.2 million project is being launched to support new entrepreneurs in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, part of an ambitious £25m package of investments that are aimed at supporting business growth.
March 1, 2009
YTKO wins prestigious ‘Flagship of Flagships’ Award
It was announced at the Prowess National conference in Blackpool that YTKO were the winner of the prestigious Best Newcomer 2009 Award.
Discover who funds and benefits from early-stage proof of concept programmes
TII Annual Conference, 22-23 April 2009, Thessaloniki, Greece
