The Pod Manchester, a Charity

Summary

The POD Manchester was a joint four-year charitable venture between Bubble and two Manchester-based housing associations. We created and managed a self-sustaining charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) to promote enterprise, provide community support and to foster economic development in Moss Side.

Challenges

Moss Side is a multicultural inner-city area of Manchester identified as a key target for economic and social regeneration.

Bubble Enterprises stepped in to support residents and stakeholders in building a brighter future for themselves and their neighbourhood with the following objectives:

Help establish new enterprises

Provide a source of income for disadvantaged households

Deliver trusted expertise in enterprise creation

Provide housing association tenants with a support package

Make the venture self-sustainable

The process

To promote enterprise and boost economic development in Moss Side, Bubble Enterprises teamed up with local housing associations One Manchester and Moss Care St Vincent to create enterprise incubator The POD Manchester.

Bubble was tasked with setting up the charity, establishing a base within the catchment area of the two housing associations in Moss Side and managing day-to-day operational and administrative services for the trustee organisations, as well as delivering strategic guidance.

The Pod provided desk space for residents looking to start their own enterprise and the necessary support services to help them get their ventures off the ground, developing The POD as a focal point for business support in the Moss Side area of Manchester.

What began as a project with a year’s funding became so self-sustainable that The Pod went on to operate for four years, supporting more than 50 entrepreneurs with advice, facilities and networking.

Outcomes

With our business incubation expertise, the Bubble team helped create 15 viable enterprises and supported the creation of another 30 ventures over the four-year period.

The project objectives were fully achieved – through knowledge sharing and practical venture support, Bubble was able to boost local economic development and support the residents of Moss Side and Hulme into enterprise.

For more information contact Bubble Enterprises on 0161 375 5111 or e-mail us at hq@bubbleenterprises.co.uk.