Tony McDonough meets GRAHAM WORELL, chief executive of ELECT

IT SEEMS bizarre that, at a time when the Government is depending on the private sector for economic growth, agencies that support business start-ups are being squeezed.

East Liverpool Economic Community Trust (ELECT), a social enterprise, enables the start-up of more than 600 businesses in Merseyside and West Lancashire every year.

And chief executive Graham Worrell claims 70% of those enterprises are still going after three years – an impressive statistic.

One of ELECT’s main sources of funding over the past few years has been the Northwest Development Agency (NWDA), as well as local authorities.

However, the NWDA is now entering its final days, and, although there will still be money available for organisations like ELECT, the eventual structures remain uncertain.

“One of the main issues at the moment is looking at how changes to local and central government policy will affect us and the businesses that we help to set up,” said Worrell, 57.

“More change is happening now than there has been for a long time.

“Everyone is trying to get a complete understanding of how things are going to be. There are more people unemployed now than there were five years ago, and there is the prospect of more people being out of work.

“That means there will be more people that need the services that we provide.

“We are the largest supplier of start-up support in the Merseyside area, working with the NWDA, the Skills Funding Agency and Liverpool City Council.

“The demise of the NWDA means there will be a change in where the contracts come from.

“We need to make sure we stay ahead of that so we can bid for them when the time comes and be able to demonstrate that we have the skills to deliver them.”

ELECT was started in 1996 with just one contract and two part-time staff, and a turnover of just £60,000. It has now grown to 50 staff, with a turnover in the millions, and has offices in Dovecot and Kensington, in Liverpool.

Its two key roles are to assist the unemployed in getting back into work and to offer help and support to those who want to start their own business.

It works across Merseyside and West Lancashire, and is now looking to expand its services into Cumbria and West Yorkshire.

According to Worrell, one of the reasons for its successful record in helping start-ups is the relationship advisors will establish with service users.

He said: “The key is to ensure the business advisor establishes a good relationship with the client – the advisors really have to be able to relate to people.

“They will identify what the client wants and where they want to get to. They look at potential barriers – it could be a lack of self-belief, a need of relevant knowledge or maybe a lack of funds to start a business.

“The big issue is whether the clients have the right approach to setting up their own business.

“There are things people need to know, such as whether there is a market for the product or service they want to provide.

“The next stage is to identify what resources are needed. It might be help with funding, finding property, leases, looking at what kind of insurance they will need.

“We help them put together a comprehensive checklist.

“In terms of funding, we enable them to access the different pots of money that are around.

“There are various sources including StepClever in Liverpool and Sefton, Knowsley has its own grant fund and there is the Princes Trust.

“There is less money around for start-ups than there was, and the advisors need to stay aware of what those sources are.”

Worrell, who was born and brought up in Preston, studied electrical engineering at Salford University and worked for a time in computer programming.

He also spent six years working as a postman.

It wasn’t until he was in his 30s that he began his career in economic development.

“I never had a life plan and I still don’t really have one,” he added.

He studied for a second time, completing a degree in applied social studies, politics and economics.

In the mid-1980s, he worked for the Lancashire Co-operative Development Agency – helping people to set up businesses and co-operatives.

He then worked in business development for Lancashire Enterprises – a business now know as Enterprise.

He then went to do similar work in Bolton before arriving at ELECT in 1998.

He says he has seen a major shift in culture since the 1980s: “There is probably more of an acceptance from the wider community that people can take charge of and progress their own lives,” said Worrell.

“Back in the 1980s, people would work in a factory and may end up staying there for their entire working lives. That culture has now gone.

“Some people find that very positive because they don’t want to be stuck in one job for their whole life.

“Other people, though, still want the security.

“What we try to do is help a whole range of people who for various reasons have found themselves outside mainstream society.

“But the bigger the difficulties people face, the greater the satisfaction we get from helping them.”

Worrell has three children from a previous relationship and one with his current partner. In his spare time, he likes to read and keep fit.

He insists that, although he and his staff work hard, they also like to “have a laugh” while they’re doing it.

Worrell also chairs Social Enterprise North West – an umbrella group for organisations similar to ELECT.

He added: “We are geared towards helping to set up businesses that offer social and ethical benefits to the community.

“At SE North West, we want to establish a viable and vibrant social enterprise sector across the region.”