Partnerships

PRIME has always taken the view that working in partnership is more effective than working alone. This section talks about PRIME’s partnerships but also invites potential partners to contact PRIME

Jobcentre Plus

Jobcentre Plus is important as the largest source of referrals to PRIME. To place that in context, many more people find PRIME for themselves, or are referred by a variety of other organisations. But Jobcentre Plus is the largest single source, and has many more over 50 clients than employers with jobs to offer them.

Where we have regional staff we work closely with Jobcentre Plus staff to ensure that self-employment is seen as one of the initial options to be considered. Starting in business is not the right answer for everyone, but where it is a possibility, it is best thought about sooner rather than later to avoid the demoralisation that can set in with the repeated rejection that many over 50s experience in the conventional job market.

Business Link

PRIME is working closely with Business Link, the government’s main business-support offering, which is going through a period of great change. PRIME is well signed-posted on the Business Link website, and Business Link refers many clients needing pre-enterprise support to us. Equally we point out to clients the value Business Link can add.

Enterprise Agencies

PRIME has always maintained a very close link with enterprise agencies and has worked with different agencies on projects, training contracts and campaigns. Here’s the current list of local free or low-cost support we are happy to refer our clients to. This list has to be updated frequently as the ability of organisations to provide free or low-cost support is constantly in flux.

Regional Development Agencies

PRIME has worked in and with all the RDAs over the last seven years, except for London. Currently we are working very closely with NWDA to develop a regional strategy for olderpreneurship.

Local authorities

PRIME has worked with local authorities on LEGI projects

Universities and research organisations

PRIME has developed relationships with several universities that have an interest in olderpreneurs, and has engaged with them on research projects.

EU

PRIME has worked in a number of EU programme partnerships, out of which it has made good friends in enterprise organisations across the EU. PRIME  has also been invited to speak at EU conferences because it is ahead of the game and one of the very few national initiatives in the EU.

Campaigning partnerships

PRIME has worked closely with PROWESS, NFEA, CDFA, the Social Enterprise Coalition and others to form the Enterprise for All Coalition (EfAC). It was also asked by the government to work with BERR, Enterprise Insight and RDAs on extending Global Entrepreneurship Week to encompass olderpreneurship.

If you're new here, you may also want to visit our main web site PRIME Business Club where we provide lots of practical information to support clients.