Founded in 1996, the Sirolli Institute is a global, not-for-profit organisation of experienced
professionals with the mission of introducing Enterprise Facilitation to communities
seeking to grow their economies from within.
Since 1985, thousands of new and expanding businesses resulting in thousands of new
jobs have been started with the help of Enterprise Facilitators in dozens of communities
in Australia, New Zealand, the USA, the UK and Canada.
Italian-born, Dr. Ernesto Sirolli pioneered in Esperance, a small rural community in
Western Australia, a unique economic development approach based on harnessing the
passion, determination, intelligence, and resourcefulness of the local people.
Enterprise Facilitation has been documented in Dr. Sirolli's book: " Ripples from the
Zambezi - Passion, Entrepreneurship and the Rebirth of the Local Economy." Adopted as
a textbook in an increasing number of academic courses in Community and Economic
Development, the book has helped to introduce Enterprise Facilitation to a new
generation of economic development practitioners and civic leaders interested in growing
their communities from within, one passionate person at the time.
In 2003 the Sirolli Institute helped the community in Rossendale, Lancashire, set up its own Enterprise Facilitation initiative. PEER
(People Encouraging Enterprise in Rossendale) was the UK's first Enterprise Facilitation project based on the Sirolli™ approach to local
regeneration.
PEER's approach to enterprise support is to understand the needs of the clients and then mobilise the community resources to meet
those needs. It's a completely confidential, common sense approach, that empowers the entrepreneur to understand their options, make
decisions and take action because nothing is done without them accepting ownership.
Since the project started activity in September 2003 up to September 2005 the PEER Enterprise Facilitation® project has achieved :
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500+ Local Introductions, enabling the Enterprise Facilitator to build a substantial network that generates enquiries for help without any other form of marketing.
- 320 Enquiries from potential clients for assistance.
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155 Clients receiving assistance: 45+ of which are community or social enterprises, and
- 50 New Businesses: 25 run by women
- 18 major development projects
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88 local people have been involved in the Community Board so far, all of whom have gained a much sharper picture of what it
takes to start and sustain a small business, many of whom have gone on to leading roles in the LSP or in their community.
For further information please visit our web site at www.sirolli.com
