Abdellatif Choukoukou, who has just completed the inaugural programme, has applied the skills he learnt to successfully expand his tourism business. The 47 year-old moved to Balsall Heath from Morocco three years ago and, after working in various telecommunications roles, decided to start up his own company renting out luxury apartments in Asilah, Morocco.
Commented Abdellatif: “Although I had taken the first step and set up my own firm, I didn’t know how to increase visitor numbers to help my company grow. This course has given me the effective marketing expertise to actively seek out forums to widen my client base and I now let apartments to customers from all over Europe.
Another course graduate, Sahida Parveen, 30, from Moseley, wanted to start up her own business as a life coach and put something back into her community. She drew on previous experience in youth work and at the Department of Work and Pensions.
Said Sahida: “I already had qualifications in mentoring but had no idea how to go about setting up my own company.
“This course equipped me with the management skills I needed and helped build a network of contacts who I can turn to for advice and financial backing. I have now applied for a small business loan and hope to launch my company within the next few months.”
To apply, or for more information, please contact by email or
telephone 01564 778 141.
Enterprise and Sustainable Communities
Courses at Levels 1, 2 and 3
An award-winning, pioneering course – that arms students with the business skills to drive social and community enterprise across the region's most deprived areas – is a key part of KYRA's skills ladder.
Organised by KYRA, a multi-faith education and training organisation, the course runs over eight weeks. Accredited by the National Open College Network, it comprises business, communication and leadership modules and has been part funded by Enterprising Communities, a city-lead regeneration scheme.
Unlocking your business potential to drive social enterprise
Building on it's successful foundation degree programme, KYRA has launched a part-time course in leadership and management to drive social enterprise across Birmingham’s most deprived areas.
Participants comprise residents, entrepreneurs, faith bodies, community groups and businesses.
A second pathway for leaders of community and voluntary sector projects
This provides the core skills needed to take forward projects aimed at providing a service in local communities and neighbourhoods. This meets the needs of a variety of community, voluntary and faith bodies wishing to run high quality services, which increasingly are being mounted in partnership with the public sector.
Flexible programme to suit working lives
Operating on a part-time basis, the course includes six three-hour sessions with experienced business mentors and teachers. Drawing on ‘real-life’ situations and examples, the seminars are work-book based, allowing students of differing levels to learn at their own pace.
Course details
The present programme is accredited at levels 1, 2 and 3 (equivalent of up to A-level).
Modules include ‘Skills for Enterprise’ covering:
• An idea – held passionately
• Business operations
• Leadership and Management
• Financial management
• Marketing
• Project development
The course outline includes:
• Social entrepreneurship
• Community, voluntary and faith projects
• Leadership styles
• Raising funds
• Action planning
• Business development process
• Impacting on community
• Managing people
• Communications
Course requirements
The course is designed to tackle economic deprivation and is open to residents, businesses, faith and community bodies from regeneration areas. To undertake the programme you must be interested in social or community enterprises, or keen to develop your own business skills, or faith or community projects.
Application procedure
For a place on the Course, and the next start date,
please contact the Outreach Manager
Saiqa Andleeb on:
Tel: 0121 440 3500/8218
Mobile: 0788 696 1245
For further information:
Email: enquiries@kyrabirmingham.org.uk
