Business
Start-up Facilities
We offer the use of the CASA premises as an incubator for new business, employment and community ideas or social justice campaigns. We also provide advice facilities to help promote and support the initial initiative.
Benefits to Business and Employment
Is a pre-employment program aimed at the long-term unemployed to help anyone coming off benefits or forced off benefits to find employment or self-employment.
We provided 230 business advice sessions from the CASA that helped start 20 micro businesses which in turn created 24 jobs. The types of businesses we helped to start-up included:
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Building and Maintenance
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African Hairdressing
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Cultural Food
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Language Classes
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Film Animation
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Damp Proofing
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Reality TV
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School Projects
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Social Welfare
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Art and Design
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Website Design
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Events Catering
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Specialised Key rings
Business Suppot You Need
If you are looking to start your own business, go self employed or are an existing business then each Thursday there will be a business support officer resident at the CASA 10 am - 5 pm. You can drop in or make an appointment by calling Les Bellman at the Eldonions on 0151 207 5181.
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The Business start-up facilities at the Initiative Factory are designed to give emerging enterprises, community projects, and social justice campaigns a solid foundation from which to grow. By offering access to the CASA premises, the organisation provides a practical incubator environment where new ideas can be tested, refined, and developed with the support of experienced staff and advisors. This space is particularly valuable for those who may not otherwise have access to affordable, well-located premises on Merseyside. The aim is to help individuals and small groups turn their ambitions into reality, whether that means launching a commercial venture, establishing a community initiative, or building momentum behind a cause that matters to them and their neighbourhood.
Beyond the physical space, the Initiative Factory offers advice facilities that are intended to promote and support the initial steps of any new undertaking. This guidance covers the practical aspects of getting started, from understanding the requirements of running a project or business to navigating the early decisions that shape its direction. The support is grounded in the organisation's long-standing commitment to fairness and justice, and it reflects a genuine desire to see local people succeed. For those who have faced barriers to employment or self-employment, this kind of hands-on assistance can make a meaningful difference, helping to bridge the gap between an idea and a working, sustainable venture.
The pre-employment programme offered through the Business and Employment strand is aimed at the long-term unemployed, including individuals coming off benefits or those who have been forced off benefits through changing circumstances. The programme is designed to help participants find employment or self-employment by building confidence, developing practical skills, and offering guidance on the realities of the modern workplace. It recognises that the journey back into work is rarely straightforward and that many people need more than a job listing to succeed. By providing structured support and encouragement, the programme seeks to remove some of the obstacles that can stand between a person and meaningful, sustainable work.
This work sits within the broader mission of the Initiative Factory, which was established in the aftermath of the Liverpool Dockworkers Dispute to uphold the aims of fairness and justice for all. The organisation serves unemployed and socially excluded residents across Merseyside, and its approach to business support is consistent with that founding purpose. Every project, programme, and piece of advice is delivered with the same underlying commitment to advancing education, relieving hardship, and promoting the well-being of the local community. The business facilities are therefore not simply about economic activity; they are about creating opportunities for people who have often been overlooked or left behind.
The quality of the services provided at the Initiative Factory is supported by the organisation's commitment to meeting recognised standards and its work with accredited and qualified advisors. Clients can expect a professional, respectful service that treats their circumstances seriously and responds to their individual needs. The premises themselves offer more than just office space, with the wider CASA venue providing a welcoming environment where people can meet, discuss, and plan. Whether someone is attending an advice session, taking part in a programme, or using the facilities to develop a new enterprise, they will find an organisation that is genuinely invested in their progress and in the wider health of the community it serves.
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