enterability

The Problem – The Idea!

For people with disabilities, it is much more difficult to find a suitable job than for other people. For many of them, self-employment is often the only possibility to take part in the working life. When setting up their business, people with disabilities have to tackle special problems. They often face evident or subliminal reservations as well as statements like: "People with disabilities are not efficient and not able to cope with the burdens of starting and running a business."

Therefore, iq consult has designed enterability, offering target group specific start-up advice for people with disabilities in order to enable them to work self-employed.

Target Group

enterability is directed to people with physical or mental disabilities, who are aiming to start their own business idea or who have already done so.

Services

enterability is built up on the positive experiences of iq consult’s project “enterprise” with target group specific start-up advice. In the sense of inclusive entrepreneurship, self-employment should be possible for those who do not meet the classical image of an entrepreneur if only they get appropriate support. Therefore, enterability combines traditional start-up advice (operational knowledge, start-up know-how, microfinance, etc.) with special offers for people with disabilities, compensating for their disadvantages. The enterability business advisors are aware that all disabilities effect on the business start-up. That is why dealing with the disabilities is an integral part of enterability. All the implications and consequences for the future business project are analysed. Business advisors and clients develop individual ways of dealing with them. enterability offers individual counselling, coaching and seminars, advice for financing the business start-up and networking activities. Taking part in enterability is free of charge.Since February 2004, iq consult operates enterability in Berlin. In early 2011, the concept has been adapted to the Federal State of Saxony-Anhalt. Besides, enterability offers training for established business advisors, who want to address to people with disabilities.

Success

Each year, about 100 people get enrolled in the enterability programme in Berlin. At least 30 severely disabled people establish their business accompanied by enterability. There is a high degree of satisfaction among participants: Almost all of them would rely on enterability again, even those who have decided not to start their business.Having started as a pilot project in Germany, enterability nowadays is seen as European Good Practice. In 2008, the German Council of Sustainability awarded enterability as an outstanding project.

Contact

Manfred Radermacher

radermacher@iq-consult.com