From April 2003 to March 2004 we have been successful in enabling twenty Business start-ups as compared with ten, last year. This has been a significant achievement for MEDS and our clients.

The table of outputs below show MEDS targets against achievements.

Meds Business Start-Up Achievements

From April 2003 to March 2004 we have been successful in enabling twenty Business start-ups as compared with ten, last year. This has been a significant achievement for MEDS and our clients.

MEDS Business Start-up: Client Groups.
The following Pie charts show the demographics of our Business Start-up client groups. Over the past year a total 94 clients have accessed MEDS business advice.

Peter Wensley

(MEDS Business Advisor)

I have been privileged to act as a Business Advisor to MEDS clients since its inception. With such a diverse range of cultures represented in the local area, this has provided me with the opportunity to acquire a broader understanding of the needs of the various communities and adopt a sympathetic understanding of their aspirations, both as a group and individually. Assisting those that desire to do so, succeed in starting their own business, has been a particularly a rewarding experience. It is fair to say that there is still much more that can be achieved in the area of removing barriers to progress for the ethnic minorities; whether this be in respect of language difficulties, building confidence or other problems which may indeed be more perceived than real. There is an interesting quote which says "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear". I can sincerely say that I have learnt as much from those I have sought to assist, as hopefully they have learnt from me. There is a wealth of untapped talent out in the community which needs to be harnessed for the benefit of all the community.