We recently received some good news – we have secured a second contract with Colne Housing to provide gardening services for several of its estates. This will help us become a more sustainable social enterprise, not dependent on grants. Of course, the whole point of a community interest company like Go4 Enterprises is to reinvest surplus income from trading back into tis core activities. This is the social benefit that flows from our business.

For us, long-term this will mean we will be help more young people who need support, work experience, training and ultimately, a way into employment. It also comes at a good time for us as we are in the final stages of negotiating a new partnership between ourselves, JobCentre Plus, Colne Housing and Ann Clarke Associates. If this comes to fruition we will soon be able to start a workplace academy that will provide vocational training.

Such a workplace academy will increase significantly the number of young people we can help, supporting them as they gain recognised qualifications and become employment ready. It will also help us expand into other areas and we are already in preliminary discussions with the Department of Work and Pensions on possible new projects.