Inspirations

These two young entrepreneurs started their own businesses and built them from the ground up, adapting to a changing economic landscape and customer demands. With hard work and dedication the couple have shown what is possible with a great idea, a simple business plan and a lot of elbow grease. They’ve grown their family (toddler Oliver) and grown their businesses (Nancy’s is a mobile nails & waxing business, and Jay’s is a pop-up catering enterprise – huge congratulations. Find them on I...

“During my army career, and in my business life in setting up, growing and selling businesses, I’ve encountered people who have that enterprising gene: the idea, the determination and the courage to run businesses – small and large – and to work their hardest to succeed.  Some of us have been fortunate to benefit from grants, investments, support and advice from family & friends, professional advisors, and institutions. But many don’t – and can’t.”

Trust Leeds’ founding Chief Executive, Liza Kellett, explains how she first came across Purple Shoots. “When I was Chief Executive of the Community Foundation in Wales, I supported – and we funded – a new charity called Purple Shoots.  With my background in setting up, running, funding and nurturing charities and social enterprises in Leeds and Wales, and in sitting on loan panels and Boards, I recognised Purple Shoots as an excellent, needed and practical charitable business. It fulfils an i...

Based in Glasgow, Wevolution has brought Self-Reliant Groups to Scotland. Trust Leeds is inspired to emulate their practices and help the SRG model to thrive in Yorkshire. Wevolution achieved National Lottery Funding to enable it to spread the word about SRGs and appoint a Partnerships Manager to support new partners who, like Trust Leeds, were keen to bring the SRG model to their areas. Wevolution’s leaders, Noel Matthias and Eleanor Campbell, have been a great source of support, inspiration...

Muhammad Yunus is the father of micro-finance for people in poverty.   He set up the worlds’ first microfinance programmes in his hometown of Chittagong in Bangladesh, and then the Grameen Bank, and he’s inspired the United Nations and the World Bank to support his, and other, micro-finance initiatives because he has proven that lending to poor people works – for them, their families and communities, and for their national economies.   He was also awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1989.  A...

Emmaus is an international movement to combat poverty and homelessness.  The Emmaus Leeds community provides a home and work in a supportive environment for 26 Companions – people who were homeless and who now live ‘above the shop’, helping to run its social enterprise and support each other to build their skills and make positive changes to their own lives and the those of the communities around them.  Learn more on the website www.emmausleeds.org.uk, twitter @emmausleeds, or facebook.  Bett...