Annual Review 2020-2021
Contents Our Chair’s Annual Review and Directors’ Report
03
Wenta - Our Impact
06
People supported during the COVID-19 pandemic year 09 Cathartic CIC Business Story
10
Finance Report
11
Wenta Partners
12
Our Values We’re supporting your dreams. • Every day we enable someone to realise their business dreams • We share your dreams by collaborating, listening and responding with the best business advice possible
We’re passionate, energetic and committed. • Always driven to go the extra mile for clients and each other • We have fun celebrating clients and our successes
We’re ambitious. • To maximise opportunities to help grow your business • To challenge ourselves to learn, to innovate and to adapt; realising even more dreams.
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Our Chair’s Annual Review and Directors’ Report INCREASED DEMAND
To support young people, aged 16- 24, Wenta registered early as a Gateway company for the Kickstart scheme, working with the Department for Work and Pensions.
At the very beginning of this reporting period, the world and the UK began to experience the impacts of the pandemic and the accompanying impacts on the economy. Small businesses have faced tumultuous change and a good many of these SMEs have unfortunately not been able to survive.
At the end of the year, a new partnership with national charity, Shaw Trust, was established to meet the growing consequences of the pandemic, rising unemployment.
Graham Lane, Interim Chairman
During the year, Wenta has faced the same uncertainty as all businesses. We have, however, faced unprecedented demand for our services. Our hours of support, faced exceptional peaks, particularly in relation to grants, access to finance, COVID-19 regulations, managing change and business resilience. Wenta responded through supporting clients to access the various grants and funds available through central Government. In the first round of grants, we estimate that our support enabled £2.3m of support to reach clients. In addition, a further £82,000 in grants were paid to micro businesses through our ERDF Programme and Wenta deferred some £189,000 of licence fees to its centre clients.
All of this was delivered alongside our existing successful partnerships and programmes. The Hertfordshire Start-up Programme continued throughout the year and we expect this to be extended until June 2023. Our partner, Stanta, have been pivotal to its success. Our ongoing support for and delivery of advice for Luton residents continued through the London Luton Airport Ltd Fund. The Bedfordshire Productivity and Growth Programme, delivered in partnership with the Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce’, continues to be a model of social delivery that we are extending to other programmes.
OUR IMPACT Throughout the pandemic, Wenta has continued to provide free, independent advice and support to clients. We have seen:
81% increase in Live Chat sessions 118% increase in one-to-one advice sessions
Over the last four years, Wenta had already invested significantly in new software, systems and ICT hardware and this has enabled us to support clients, local authorities and partners with the capacity needed to respond to the challenges that we have all faced. Wenta was ready for the challenge and the outcomes for the year reflect this.
4000 attendees on training webinars, an increase of 80%
The Board of Wenta are grateful to be able to report that our staff have remained safe throughout this period, but our thoughts are with the families of those who have lost loved ones, including those amongst our centres and advice clients.
218 businesses supported through the Kickstart scheme
OUR PARTNERSHIPS
Elsewhere, we understood that organisations were finding the year a challenge. Our staff team engaged in a range of activities to support the following causes, many of which were chosen by staff members; The Peace Hospice, Herts Domestic Abuse Helpline, Communities 1st, The Royal British Legion, Alzheimer’s Research UK, Cancer UK, Macmillan Cancer Support and, very sadly, a donation in memory of Wenta client, Mo Miah, for Bedford Hospital.
Our work with partners has continued and grown. In the South East Midlands I am pleased to be able to report that MHCLG has agreed to extend a refocused programme of support. We are pleased to have also continued our partnership with the Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce, the University of Bedfordshire and the University of Northampton in delivering The South East Midlands Start-up Programme. This theme continued in our partnership with Watford Borough Council on The Watford Business Recovery and Growth Programme. Speedy access to grants and support has meant that Watford is well placed to exit the pandemic in a resilient manner. Our work with the Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership continued over the year. The Get Enterprising Programme pivoted very early on to move to support businesses with surviving the initial shock and impacts of COVID-19. Later in the year, we refocused on growth aspects of support. The year may well become known as a year of mass, accelerated digitisation. The move to online trading for SMEs created pressure on their knowledge and accessibility of the tools needed. To respond, Wenta partnered with tech company, UENI, to offer a free website to all Wenta clients, alongside the digital skills training to support them.
93% positive satisfaction rate from training sessions 339 new businesses started 228 jobs created
Whilst the economic outlook remains uncertain, demand for free advice and support for SMEs looks set to be part of the wider policy agenda for some time to come. Wenta are well positioned to deliver high quality services through: • ongoing investment in digital technology • innovating with new partners • accelerating digital audiences • harnessing our logistical strengths to deliver increased reach. Wenta has been successfully providing business support and advice since 1983. Our experience is key to our success, as are our people; the Board, our staff, clients and the communities that we operate in. We are proud of our achievements in the most difficult year in living memory, many thanks to you all.
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04
“
Even though we knew about our idea and we could see our vision, it gave us a lot of validation when a business advisor understood our vision as well. It was really good timing for us to have a place to go to for one-to-one business advice.
”
Michelle Chin, d20 Café
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Wenta 19,083
hours of business advice and support delivered
339
total business starts
8,942 total live chats
43%
93%
of Wenta’s clients from BAME communities 2020/21 compared to 36% 2019/20
1,427
total live chat hours delivered
06
satisfaction rate from training
339
jobs created
Our Impact £112,000 in grants paid to small businesses
£283,250 in grants paid over the past 3 years
10,140 training hours delivered
281
1,791
businesses supported across our five business centres
2,803 one-to-one sessions delivered
training attendees
2,799
hours of one-to-one sessions delivered
1st April 2020 - 31st March 2021 07
“
We know how difficult this year has been for many of these businesses and employees, with uncertainty high and unemployment growing. I would therefore urge anyone who needs support to contact us as soon as possible and utilise Wenta’s support programme. It’s free and, most importantly, tailored to your needs.
”
Peter Taylor, Mayor of Watford
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People supported during the COVID-19 pandemic year Centre Locations: The Business and Technology Centre, Stevenage
Chells Industrial Units, Stevenage
The Wenta Business Centre, Watford
The Wenta Business Centre, Enfield
The Enterprise Centre, Potters Bar
NEWCASTLE
LEEDS
LIVERPOOL
High rates of unprecedented business support demands
BIRMINGHAM SOUTH EAST MIDLANDS
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
Support delivered during the COVID-19 pandemic year
ENFIELD
SOUTHHAMPTON PORTSMOUTH
BRIGHTON
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Cathartic CIC’s business story A creative arts organisation, three years old, delivering innovative programmes to vulnerable people, Cathartic CIC is an organisation that has gone from strength to strength over the past year. Nicky and Maria help people ranging from 1 to 103 years old, and everyone in between. They provide bespoke, creative art workshops supporting those living with dementia, special educational needs, vulnerable families, those living with bereavement, those on a palliative care plan, working in partnership with organisations such as Watford Borough Council, Home Start, Herts Social Services and Peace Hospice Care. Starting out in 2018, Nicky and Maria were working in each other’s homes having given up full-time roles to start Cathartic CIC with no funds and no premises. Realising they needed more than just their creative skills to run a business, they discovered Wenta’s training courses and started on a journey that has taken them to places they had never imagined. Attending a course for small business finances, they were introduced to Centre Manager, Donna Colbourne, and Business Advisor, Mick Dobson, based at The Wenta Business Centre - Watford. This initial, free training course, helped to set them on their path forwards, but meeting Donna and Mick opened even more opportunities for them. Taking business advice from Mick, the pair moved into Wenta’s business start-up incubator at the Watford centre. Shortly after, following a recommendation from Donna in January 2020, they took their first small, 2-person office – set to be their home from home for the next 18 months. This really did become their second home, turning it into an ‘Aladdin’s Cave’, personalised and decorated with artistic tools and crafts created by themselves and their clients. Having the workspace has also given them opportunities to meet and support clients at the centre and this became essential to their business growth and development. Ongoing business support, one-to-one advice and input from Donna and Mick provided a network and foundation for them to drive their dreams forward and thrive – despite the COVID-19 pandemic setbacks. Being able to meet collaborators, network with other small businesses, hire meeting rooms and really make full use of all of Wenta’s services has been an invaluable part of their journey. “Throughout our time at Wenta, we have felt incredibly well supported, there is always someone to help – Donna and Mick have been amazing, we’ve had help on the phone, in-person or using the online live chat – there is always someone available to help. In-person access to help on-site has been incredible – it can feel very isolating starting a new business, but being part of a community has really helped. Donna and Mick have both presented suggestions, ideas – things to help that we never knew existed. Sometimes just an outside point of view, having someone else to listen/talk to is great, as we work so closely together.” Maria Todesco, Cathartic CIC.
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Being located at The Wenta Business Centre, Watford, has had unforeseen benefits for Nicky and Maria’s clients, too. The community feel at the centre has been extended to the people they work with, resulting in positive feedback from social workers and carers, who have
noted improvements in the well-being and communication skills of their clients. This has been due to the warm welcome that all of their clients have received at the centre, by both Wenta Team members and other businesses based at the site. As with most small businesses, 2020 and the national lockdown that came with the COVID-19 pandemic meant a great deal of uncertainty for Nicky and Maria. As a publicly funded service, with clients referred and paid for by local partners, in a face-to-face service provision, sustainability was looking uncertain. It was unclear whether or not Cathartic CIC would be able to maintain the premises and continue providing the invaluable services to the local community. However, with advice and guidance from Mick, Wenta’s resident business advisor in Watford, they were able to apply successfully for a COVID related Business Rates Relief grant – of which they had not previously been aware of. This allowed them to carry on working with the vulnerable community and the funding actually helped to grow the business throughout the pandemic. They have now secured 5 new contracts, doubled their client-base and will be working with around 90 clients per week. “None of this would have been possible without the grant, or the amazing support we have received from the Wenta Team.” “The communication at the Wenta Business Centre during the pandemic has been outstanding. Safety concerns over returning and having visitors join us on site were a real issue, but the work the site staff have done gave us the confidence to continue working. They have been really impressive throughout and we’ve been able to adapt our services with the assistance of the Wenta Team here.” Maria Todesco, Cathartic CIC With the growth that they have seen and the expansion of the client base, Cathartic have continued to draw on the advice and facilities available from Wenta. Mick worked with Nicky and Maria to hire a new employee through the government’s Kickstart Scheme – helping a young, unemployed person back into a role after 18 months out of work. With the additional contracts that they have been able to secure, they have also been able to move out of their 2-person office and into a workshop unit space recommended by Wenta – which they are currently putting their unique stamp on. This additional space is also giving them capacity to take on more staff in the near future, increasing the service provision to the vulnerable community in ways they had not previously thought would be achievable. For more information on Cathartic CIC, visit www.catharticcic.com
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We are extremely grateful for the opportunities Wenta has given us. Helping to grow our business as well as being ‘that person’ to talk to when we’ve needed it. We feel that without Wenta, Cathartic CIC would not have become as established as we are and we’re really looking forward to continuing this professional relationship.
”
Maria Todesco, Cathartic CIC
Finance Financial report
Year to 31/07/2018
Year to 31/07/2019
8 months to 31/03/2020
Year to 31/3/2021
3,535,190
3,308,677
2,088,777
3,161,444
-2,645,236
-2,664,193
-1,538,028
-2,013,532
Interest/other charges
-89,107
-112,829
-69,725
-140,848
Surplus
800,847
531,655
481,024
1,007,064
Total assets less liabilities
10,123,088
10,432,750
10,766,171
8,633,019
Long term liabilities
-4,001,758
-3,779,765
-3,632,162
-419,946
6,121,330
6,652,985
7,134,009
8,141,073
Turnover Admin expenses
Total net assets
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Thank you Thanks to everyone who appears in this Annual Review, along with all the amazing clients we get to work with every day – who are the core of the Wenta community!
Special thanks go to our Board of Directors for their continued support during 2020-2021: Ed Jordan Graham Lane Helen Webb Ian Martin
Kit Davies Leath Al Obaidi Louise Parkes Peter Oxley
Samantha Chaney Tony Silcock Zoe Hancock
Wenta Partners ACAS Allan Smith Accounting & Tax ASA Business Consulting Bedford Borough Council Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce Brasier Freeth British Business Bank CACI Cheeky Munkey Clearchannel UK Clearhead Media Cobweb Information Communicorp UK Dacorum Borough Council East Herts District Council Eastleigh Council Enfield Council Enterprise Research Centre Exemplas Finpoint FSB Great Ormond Street Hospital Google Digital Garage Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce
Hertfordshire County Council Hertfordshire Growth Hub Hertfordshire LEP Hertfordshire Libraries Hertsmere Borough Council HM Revenue & Customs Ian Martin Consulting Iyadoor Marketing Jamcrackers KC+A Kent Growth Hub L33 UK Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation London Luton Airport Ltd Luton Borough Council Manchester City Council Mentors Me Music Myers Clark Chartered Accountants North Hertfordshire College Oaklands College Ocean Outdoor Media Richmond Planning Rothamsted ROCRE
Santander Scott & York SEMLEP SEMLEP Growth Hub Shaw Trust Sky Media (AdSmart) Social Jooce South Hill Centre Sparq Legal Stanta Start Up Loans Stevenage Borough Council The Princes Trust UENI Ltd University of Bedfordshire University of Hertfordshire University of Northampton Veale Wasbrough Vizards Vibe FM Watford Borough Council Watford Chamber of Commerce Watford Community Housing Trust Waterstons Webb Strategy Ltd
And of course, all our Wenta staff for their continued hard work and commitment.
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