BBO BRIDGES
Providing quality information, advice and guidance to assist unemployed people develop self-employment ideas into realities.
More Below
BBO BRIDGES
Providing quality information, advice and guidance to assist unemployed people develop self-employment ideas into realities.
More Below
BBO BRIDGES
Providing quality information, advice and guidance to assist unemployed people develop self-employment ideas into realities.
More Below
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Building Bridges to Self-Employment

What We Provide

We establish a way forward with each participant and offer a range of options that will give each individual an opportunity to move forward which includes, self-employment, employment, further training. 

Training Options

We offer opportunities to gain qualifications that will enhance self-employment. We offer opportunities to gain qualifications that will enhance self-employment. We offer opportunities.

Self-Employment Awareness

Gain knowledge and understanding of self-employment and what is involved in setting up your own business via small group or 1-1 support.

Next Steps

The opportunity to develop your business plan, register business, progress onto further training,  signposting to other BRIDGES partners offers.

What We Stand For

BRIDGES

Building Reachable Individual Dreams Gaining Employment & Skills

The BRIDGES project is part of the Building Better Opportunities grant funded by The Big Lottery Fund and the European Social Fund. It supports unemployed people towards realising their self-employment aspirations. Working with the most vulnerable citizens across the borough Access to Business BRIDGES offers advice and guidance, information and practical solutions to develop ideas into a reality.

Access to Business BRIDGES programme has a proven track record of supporting people in Building Reachable Individual Dreams Gaining Employment & Skills. The success achieved in our initial three year project from 2016 to 2019 led to BRIDGES being awarded a further three year extension.

Skills Development Training

BRIDGES participants have access to a range of workshops & training options to strengthen their self-employment knowledge and employment chances. 

Eligibility Criteria

Our Requirements

  • MUST be 25 years or older

    To become on of our clients and benefit from our services you MUST reach our age criteria

  • Recipient of Income Based Benefit

    JSA, ESA, Income Support or Universal Credit (working tax credits, child tax credits DO NOT APPLY)

  • Have Significant Barriers

    Disabilities, Convictions, Lone Parent, Lack Basic Skills, Family Carer, Debt issues & Worries

  • In NO Paid Work

    Cannot be involved in ANY paid work of ANY kind, including self-employment - (even if they are not registered yet as self-employed).

Building Bridges to Self-Employment

Workshops & Training

Our main selection of workshops and training to help YOU develop the vital skills and confidence to become self-employed or get into permanent employment.

Business Planning & Legals

  • Your Business Plan
  • Forms of Trading
  • Legal Implications
  • Health & Safety
  • Resources

Business Marketing & Selling

  • Methods
  • Customer Profiling
  • Customer Segmentation
  • Customer Care
  • SWOT Analysis

Business Finance

  • Personal & Business Budgeting
  • Pricing
  • Sales & Cash Flow Forecasting
  • Business Record Keeping
  • HMRC: What You Need to Know
Josie Headshot

We are delighted to be working alongside Steps to Work and other partners on the delivery of the BRIDGES project, by giving people information and supporting the development of the skills and confidence they need we are literally ‘building a bridge’ to being self-employed or starting a business

Josie Kelly

-

CEO, Access to Business

Building Bridges to Self-Employment

Participant Success Stories

Our successful BRIDGES project is proud to play a role in supporting individuals from diverse backgrounds. Read the stories of our most successful BRIDGES participants and discover how they overcame unemployment and made their way to success.

case study, ann, thomas, business, black, celebration, success, story, success story, monica, king, medical, support, guidance

Monica King

BRIDGES Participant

case study, ann, thomas, business, black, celebration, success, story, success story

Ann Thomas

BRIDGES Participant

Carol-Ann Smith

BRIDGES Participant

Read More

Building Bridges to Self-Employment

Our BRIDGES Team

Our successful BRIDGES project is proud to play a role in supporting individuals from diverse backgrounds. Read the stories of our most successful BRIDGES participants and discover how they overcame unemployment and made their way to success.

Lester Knight

Senior Business Advisor & Project Co-ordinator

An experienced professional, Lester manages our successful BRIDGES team and is accomplished in both education and business. He has a proven track record in successfully supporting entrepreneurs from all walks of life, in establishing sustainable businesses and self-employment.

Debra Friedl

Business Advisor

From volunteer to the BRIDGES team administrator Debra excels in every role that comes her way. Now offering guidance as a BRIDGES Business Advisor, she enjoys working closely with her colleagues and is proud to have supported them to become BRIDGES Partner of the Year 2019 - Runner Up.

Keith Fitzsimons

Outreach Business Advisor

Keith has worked for over 20 years with people from marginalised communities and those with significant barriers. With qualifications in adult learning, he has been a valuable part of the BRIDGES team for over two years and has supported many people into self-employment and further training.

Further Contact

For Further Support

If you are unemployed and thinking about becoming self-employed or starting your own business contact our BRIDGES team on 01902 572397 or email bbobridges@access2business.co.uk

BRIDGES Partners

Our Latest News

Keep up with all our latest news here! From events and outings to new training and workshops.

A2B E-Newsletter: September Edition 2020
17Sep

A2B E-Newsletter: September Edition 2020

The effects of COVID19 will not stop us from getting

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08Sep

Global Learning Success!

The Global Learning Festival has finished for 2020 but we

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Global Virtual Learning Festival 2020
24Aug

Global Virtual Learning Festival 2020

Access to Business will be offering four great webinars all

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Our Partners

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Access to Business is the Wolverhampton based charity providing professional services supporting local people into employment and self-employment and also offering accredited and non-accredited training courses and office services for local businesses.

Contact

  • The Curve, 81 Tempest Street Wolverhampton, WV2 1AA
  • 01902 572397
  • info@access2business.co.uk
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Charity No:  1138761

Company No:  05084674

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