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Brokering business connections: Engaging business support for neighbourhood renewal
The Business Broker pilots were launched by the government in 2002 as a three year project to test ways business could contribute more effectively to turning around some of our most deprived neighbourhoods. Business Brokers have the job of supporting and encouraging business to work with local partners to tackle deprivation and boost local economies. This independent evaluation of the 10 pilots has demonstrated the brokers' worth, with significant increases in business engagement overall and mutual benefits to the community organisations, companies and partner agencies involved.
Title: Brokering business connections: Engaging business
support for neighbourhood renewal
Authors: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Home Office,
Department of Trade & Industry
Number of pages: 16
Date published: March 2005
Availability: Download
full report 
PDF 1.7Mb
Important lessons have been learnt from the pilot projects. There are barriers to greater business engagement with Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs), and the pilots have highlighted how to put in place the means to bridge the gap between sectors to maximise the opportunities for working together.
There were concerns about the level of business interest in LSPs, and the level of understanding amongst other LSP partners of the benefits business can bring. The pilots found many ways addressing these problems, including engaging businesses in LSP theme groups or time-limited projects. Business Forums, supported by Brokers in some areas, have also proved important in fostering and sustaining business involvement in neighbourhood renewal.
The pilot has demonstrated the need for dedicated brokers and the functions they can perform. However, the evaluation highlights challenges in rolling out the Broker pilots - in particular mainstreaming business engagement within LSP activities and integrating activities with Regional Development Agencies.
ODPM plans to issue new guidance for LSPs on business engagement. It also plans to continue the Partnership Academy as a source of expertise and support for organisations that want to to employ a Business Broker, and for disseminating the wider lessons about business engagement in neighbourhood renewal.
Getting a copy
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Brokering business connections: Engaging business support for
neighbourhood renewal
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Renewal website
Last update: 16 March 2005