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West Yorkshire Social Enterprise Link (WYSELink)
has provided crucial funding for Fair Grounds (a Bradford
based social enterprise venture), creating employment and
enabling it to develop as a trading business to promote ethical
consumer choice through retail and education (check detail).
WYSELink is a sub brand of Business Link West Yorkshire which
is funded by Yorkshire Forward.
Whilst studying Peace and Development at University,
Nina Carter-Brown learnt the importance of supporting positive
changes in the economies and societies of poorer countries
in the world through Fair Trade. She was intent on utilising
her skills and passion to launch a business to promote these
values and contacted SEL for advice and assistance.
"I had no business training or experience and
wouldn't have had a clue where to start if it wasn't for the
help and support from our WYSELink adviser Helen Mallison,"
said Nina.
Helen provided support that enabled Nina to
learn key skills in areas such as market research and e-commerce.
"We import products from Africa, Asia and the Middle East
for wholesale and also retail via the Fair Grounds website
(www.fair-grounds.org.uk), so it was great to get expert advice
on this area of the business," said Nina.
Products sold on the Fair-Grounds website include
recycled newspaper placemats and jewellery from the Phillippines,
sandals made in Kenya from recycled car tyres, embroidered
wall hangings from Palestine and chocolate from Grenada. Nina
said: "Our website makes it easy for people to shop ethically
and the sales we make support the producers, with the profits
being invested back through the business."
Nina is also aware of the need to educate youngsters
about the importance of ethical consumer choice and is concentrating
her efforts on the educational side of the business by raising
awareness of global issues through interactive workshops and
events at local schools and youth groups.
Nina concluded: "My adviser has been really
supportive and encouraging, putting me in touch with the right
people and giving me ongoing advice. She also lets me know
what courses I should attend to help grow the business." With
this advice in mind, and the fact that UK consumers have become
the world's biggest fairtrade consumers, Nina is set to realise
her vision for the future of opening a fairtrade shop and
resource centre.
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I
had no business training or experience and wouldn't have had
a clue where to start if it wasn't for the help and support
from our WYSELink adviser" Nina Carter-Brown, Fair Grounds
