Project archive

E4I

Enterprise 4 Inclusion (E4I) supported social enterprises and voluntary organisations planning or developing enterprise-based activities that benefit socially excluded people in rural areas of England.  The programme was sponsored by Defra and used action research to test the best way of supporting rural social enterprises.  This one-year programme ended in June 2006. E4I was directed by a consortium consisting of ACRE, Plunkett Foundation, Co-operatives UK, Enterprising Communities, Development Trust Association and Prime UK.

E4I supported individual projects with cash grants of up to £12,000 and the services of a 'support provider'.  The programme operated across the South West, East Midlands, North West and North East. ACRE was responsible for maintaining contact with projects in the South West and East Midlands.

Click here for Projects & People: Case examples of project beneficiaries.

Click here for a copy of the Executive summary.

Business in the Community (BITC)

Building capacity in engaging the private sector

An ACRE and Business in the Community partnership project

Business in the Community (BITC) and ACRE were funded by Defra to explore the experiences of 10 pilot RCCs across the country as they worked on building closer relationships between RCCs and local businesses. 

During the course of the project, the pilot RCCs developed and took forward action plans with their BITC regional contact. Connections were fostered to benefit both the internal activity in each of the pilot RCCs and to improve the awareness and interest of local businesses in the work of the RCC within their rural communities. 

The project was interested primarily in the processes required to generate successful engagement, with the objective of disseminating lessons learned.  A toolkit has now been produced to help others in creating a structured approach to building relationships with the private sector. 

Click here for the toolkit in pdf format.