Incubator seeks more charities after succesful 12-month trial

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2:16 pm, May 12, 2009
Incubator seeks more charities after succesful 12-month trial

By Michael Fahy

Charity incubator Inspire is urging local charities keen to develop their fundraising and marketing skills to take advantage of the goodwill of the region’s business community.

The incubator was formally launched at the Manchester office of private bank Coutts last night following a 12-month trial in which ten local charities including North West Air Ambulance, Honey Rose Trust and Manchester-based homeless charity Mustard Tree were encouraged to attend monthly meeting sessions facilitated by experienced entrepreneurs. Following the pilot, Inspire board member Vernon Barker – who is also chief executive of train operating company First Transpennine – said that it is looking to substantially rollout the offer to support up to 60 charities.

Leigh Wharton, who helped to establish Manchester Business School’s incubator, said that access to training and support for charity volunteers could also be added as part of the service.

Founder, Darryl Cooke, head of commercial at law firm Hill Dickinson, said that the North West had “more skilled business leaders than possibly anywhere else in the UK”.

“If we can create a point of access whereby growing charities can tap into that knowledge and expertise then we will see those with the most potential really flourish.”

Other board members include Granada Reports presenter Lucy Meacock, the Institute of Directors North West chairman Ann Jordan, Laura Wolfe of Out There Events and Harold Sharples of MRC Limited. The board has already secured agreements from a number of the city’s professional services firms to dedicate a specific number of hours’ worth of pro bono work to incubator charities.

“We can introduce people to hundreds of skilled service providers and business brains who have pledged to give their time or advice for free,” said Meacock.

COMMENTS? mfahy@crain.com