Enterprise and Innovation

Business Support to LACBA (Leicester African Caribbean Business Association)

"Raising awareness of business issues in and for the African Caribbean community"

The project is funding a marketing executive position in an organisation that has struggled to find regular funding. The post will help LACBA raise its profile both inside and outside the African Caribbean community in Leicester.

Organisation: Leicester African Caribbean Business Association

Completion Date: 31/03/2004

Location

The project work will be Leicester based and serve the needs of the local business community. If the project attracts businesses outside of the local vicinity, all efforts will be made to refer them to other organisations that can help them in their own local area.

Project Description

This project has been a big help to LACBA. With all the help and support LACBA has recieved from the LSEP, LACBA has been able to transform themselves into a better organisation.

Background
LACBA is an African Caribbean Business Association whose main activity is to provide business counselling advice, promote enterprise and training to the African Caribbean community on a non-profit basis. The association has been formerly constituted since 1995 and represents the business issues and 'voice' of the African Caribbean community. LACBA's main aim is to serve the needs of the African Caribbean Community.

Through the project LACBA has also been able to increase its availability of service to beyond the African Caribbean Community. LACBA's services are now available FREE of charge to all the small and medium sized businesses in Leicester.

Funding
LACBA has survived on a voluntary and grant-assisted basis and has not had permanent core funding support from any particular funding regimes. As a consequence, the organisation has had to rely on bidding to do any business support, training and capacity-building activity with its community. in addition, it has had difficulty to sustain any permanent posts within the organisation.

Marketing

The project has continued to fund a marketing executive position to allow the present holder of this post to continue to provide their services to their community. The role was taken by a graduate; thus assistance has helped to retain a graduate into employment.

Outcomes

Results of marketing post

• Raising awareness of LACBA and its services to the community.
• Creating and building a client database system.
• Increasing its customer base and building credibility and image.
• Greater involvement of the African Caribbean community in businesses start-up's and enterprise.
• Maintainence of the LACBA website.
• Raising profile of LACBA through attending and hosting events.
• Increase in the number of proactive enquiries recieved at LACBA.

Project Contacts

Project manager:
Neville Springer
Tel: 0116 251 1325
Fax: 0116 262 4436
E-mail: info@lacba.biz
Website: www.lacba.biz
Address: LACBA, Melbourne Centre, Melbourne Road, Leicester LE2 0GU

LSEP contact:
Niloofar Sarkari
Tel: 0116 257 5678
E-mail: niloofars@lsep.co.uk
Website: www.lsep.co.uk