A PORTSMOUTH-BASED social enterprise has launched its first nationwide initiative – with the help of Cabinet minister Eric Pickles.

Portsmouth North MP Penny Mordaunt, Cathedral Innovation Centre chief executive Francis Davis and Cabinet minister Eric Pickles at the launch

The Cathedral Innovation Centre (CIC), a ground-breaking venture to incubate new businesses, create jobs and develop socially responsible managers, launched the Faith in Enterprise Awards at the House of Commons on May 9. Budding entrepreneurs from across the country can apply now for a share of £250,000 to help turn their ideas into brand new firms.

The Rt Hon Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, announced the awards, which aim to unlock business mentoring skills, make use of under-used property and harness the networks of religious communities, or just give a young entrepreneur the break they need.

Mr Pickles said: ''There are many budding young entrepreneurs out there with superb ideas who just need a bit of extra support to get started. By tapping into the skills of our faith communities, and the energy of volunteers, the Faith In Enterprise Awards are a fantastic way of turning their good ideas into real business ventures that will create the growth and the jobs this country needs.”

The Awards were also endorsed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby. A message was read out at the launch from him.

"I am sorry not be with you in person to mark the launch of the ‘Faith in Enterprise’ awards, but I wanted to take this opportunity to say how very pleased I am that these awards will enable faith communities to support young entrepreneurs as they develop and establish new businesses," he said. "Portsmouth Cathedral Innovation Centre has led the way in this by welcoming new businesses into its office space and supporting their leaders with advice, with encouragement and with much needed practical and financial support. These awards will help extend that work across the country.
 
"I am, of course, thrilled that a Church of England cathedral is so involved in this project. But I am even more pleased that it is a shared work, with partners in the ‘Faith in Enterprise’ awards including the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth, the RSA, Portsmouth Business School, Elevation Networks and Faith Action and that the awards will be open to young entrepreneurs of any faith or none, with local support being drawn from across the faith communities."

Young entrepreneurs aged between 18 and 30 – of any religious background or no faith - can apply for a share of the initial £200,000 on offer. The UK’s nine major religions will be encouraged to nominate applicants, but businesses and local government can put people in touch too. Successful applicants will receive between £2,500 and £7,500 as a start-up loan, plus a mentor and some marketing support to help create their new firm.

There will also be five major awards of a £10,000 interest-free start-up loan, a grant, a circle of VIP mentors, marketing and office support, a free office and a PC or tablet. These ‘Chairman’s Awards’ will be granted after a national judging process chaired by the Dean of Portsmouth Cathedral, the Very Rev David Brindley, and comprising a panel of civic, business and religious leaders from around the country.

The application process is now open and anyone interested can find out more details on www.cathedralinnovationcentre.com. The closing date for the Chairman’s Awards is September 30. The other awards will be available until March 31, 2014.

Bishop Christopher said: “'In uncertain economic times, I am pleased that the Cathedral Innovation Centre, itself launched in and from our diocese, is creating opportunities from which every locality might benefit. When young entrepreneurs come forward to found a firm they not only have the opportunity to develop their own potential but also to create jobs for others, giving them hope and opportunity.”

The Very Rev David Brindley, dean of Portsmouth Cathedral, said: “Cathedrals have long been hubs of economic and social innovation. It is fitting then that the Cathedral Innovation Centre, based in and from our own cathedral, has created a national award which is open to those in every city and town. Integral to our own mission we hope that religious leaders everywhere will take up its cause and encourage people to apply.”

And Francis Davis, chief executive of the CIC, said: “We’ve worked with our partners to make £250,000 available to unlock the entrepreneurial talent that we know is out there. In creating the CIC from Portsmouth, we’ve worked with the leadership of many business, civic and religious bodies from the outset and across the country too. Because of that, we know that religious networks are connected with those that want to create jobs and address pressing needs in every locality. We want these awards to help unlock some of that energy. We want religious leaders in every area to put people in touch – and to encourage young entrepreneurs to have a go.

“Those who win a share of this cash and go on to create their own firms will also be creating much-needed new jobs. At a time of recession, jobs are a real sign of hope and hope is something in which people of faith have long had a specialism. Anyone can apply, whatever they believe and wherever they live, because every citizen matters to us. But it would be genuinely exciting to see those of different faith and minority communities working together to transform their local economy.”

The announcement of the pioneering national prizes comes just a week after the Cathedral Innovation Centre and movement was launched by Baroness Berridge and government minister Mark Hoban from Portsmouth’s Anglican Cathedral. It provides start-up loans, mentoring and office space for fledgling firms, and a programme of leadership development to support a socially responsible generation of managers. More such centres are expected to be created in Southampton, Havant, Derby, Cheshire, East Anglia, Bournemouth and the North-East.

And the unveiling of the awards coincides with the launch by the All-Parliamentary Group on Faith in Society of a new book called ‘Faith with Its Sleeves Rolled Up’. It has been produced by the group FaithAction, details the practical contribution of faith-based organisations to UK society and includes a case study on the Cathedral Innovation Centre.