This snapshot, taken on 04/03/2010, shows web content selected for preservation by The National Archives. External links, forms and search boxes may not work in archived websites.

We're creating a single website for everything to do with BIS but, while we do that, you'll find information in three places. > Find what you're looking for

 
 

Lessons Learnt from the Phoenix Development Fund

The Phoenix Development Fund, which closed on 31 March 2006.

The fund was set up in 2000 to support innovative demonstrator projects working in disadvantaged areas and with under-represented groups. During its lifetime it supported an impressive range of initiatives that:

  • explored innovative ways of promoting business start-ups in disadvantaged areas
  • helped existing businesses in those areas to diversify, to provide better services and become more profitable; and
  • provided specialist support to encourage isolated people and groups in those areas to consider setting up and running their own businesses.

For those who develop or deliver services in disadvantaged areas or work with under-represented groups, the Phoenix Development Fund legacy provides a rich source of materials and ideas on policy development and implementation around enterprise development, social inclusion and regeneration. These follow two main strands:

  1. Investing in Success – reflections and conclusions from over 50 Phoenix Development Fund projects whose funding ended in March 2006; ideas, tips and case studies of 'what works' when providing enterprise support to disadvantaged communities and under-represented groups.

  2. City Growth – City Growth is a market-based approach to urban revitalisation that recognises sustainable economic development in deprived areas will only be achieved by building a competitive business environment that generates jobs, income and wealth opportunities. It was launched in the UK in July 2001.

 

Investing in Success

The Investing in Success full report (103 pages) gives a wide picture of the lessons learnt from the Phoenix Development Fund:

Investing in success: capturing the lessons from the phoenix development fundPDF document (652KB)

Investing in Success (11 pages) – provides an executive summary of the above:

Investing in success: capturing the lessons from the phoenix development fund. Executive summaryPDF document (88KB)

Leading Lights: Experiences from the Phoenix Development Fund (107 pages) celebrates the achievements of people involved in over 90 Phoenix Development Fund projects supported between 2001 and 2004 - lives changed because provision matches their culture, expectations, interests and motivations.

Leading lights: experiences from the phoenix development fundPDF document (1014KB)

The Enterprise Directorate Analytical Unit's commissioned report (151 pages) provides a final evaluation of the Phoenix Development Fund.

Evaluation: the Phoenix Development Fund. Final reportPDF document (968KB)

 

Eight themed report summaries focus on the respective projects and cover context, emerging lessons, strategic issues and key policy messages.

Disadvantage and Disability (2 pages)
Phoenix development fund: themed report summary. Disadvantage and disabilityPDF document (34KB)

BME Businesses and Refugee Support (3 pages)

Phoenix development fund: themed report summary. BME businesses and refugee supportPDF document (36KB)

Social Enterprises (2 pages)

Phoenix development fund: themed summary report. Social enterprisesPDF document (33KB)

Mental Health & Enterprise (2 pages)

Phoenix development fund: themed report summary. Mental health and enterprisePDF document (32KB)

Housing Associations (2 pages)

Phoenix development fund: themed report summary. Housing associationsPDF document (24KB)

Serving and Ex-Offenders (2 pages)

Phoenix development fund: themed report summary. Serving and ex-offendersPDF document (23KB)

Women in Enterprise (2 pages)

Phoenix development fund: themed report summary. Women in enterprisePDF document (36KB)

Sectoral Perspectives (2 pages)

Phoenix development fund: themed report summary. Sectoral perspectivesPDF document (33KB)


 

City Growth

City Growth was originally supported by the Enterprise Directorate's Phoenix Development Fund, which closed as of 31 March 2006. All the City Growth initiatives across England continue with alternative funding.

City Growth is a market-based approach to urban revitalisation that recognises sustainable economic development in deprived areas will only be achieved by building a competitive business environment that generates jobs, income and wealth opportunities. It was launched in the UK in July 2001.

City Growth is not a new programme or policy. It is based upon a model developed by the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) - a US think-tank led by Professor Michael Porter, and is driven by Chancellor Gordon Brown's commitment to address disadvantage through the growth of enterprise. It helps prioritise and organise existing policies and programmes at the local level and offers a very different approach to developing distressed communities. Led by the private sector, City Growth puts business at the heart of inner city regeneration.

The following external links give further information on City Growth initiatives:

Initiative for a Competitive Inner City

City Growth City Fringe

City Growth Liverpool

City Growth Manchester

City Growth Plymouth

 


© Crown copyright2010