SYAC finds independence

Story: Lesley Draper

Respected community worker Cora Gordan has been appointed to spearhead a drive to transform business opportunities for Sheffield’s minority ethnic communities.

Cora is the new manager of SYAC Ltd, a company dedicated to promoting enterprise and training, with a particular focus on the city’s African-Caribbean community.

South Yorkshire African Caribbean Business and Enterprise Training Centre (SYAC), based at the former ACE Centre on The Wicker, was founded in 1991 but has been run by the Council for the last decade. In March it was transferred back into community control and Cora’s appointment completes the hand-over.

Cora was part of Sheffield’s social services team for six years before moving to Manchester as head of the council’s family unit. She then spent some years in Grenada, supporting health initiatives in local schools, before returning to Sheffield.

She sees her new post as both a challenge and an opportunity.

“I’d worked with the African-Caribbean community over the years and I always felt business development was one of the key needs of the community,” said Cora, who has lived in Burngreave most of her life. “If we can encourage people to develop their own business, they can help to regenerate the local economy and benefit from it too.

“There’s still a lot of unemployment and poverty within the black community – for every white person in Sheffield out of work, there are four black people. This is one way I can help to make a difference.”

Her role will include establishing SYAC as a viable enterprise in its own right, as well as helping launch new businesses and support them in partnership with other agencies.

SYAC currently has vacant workshops and office space available to rent for new and established businesses. For more information, contact Cora Gordon at SYAC Ltd on 223 2100 or email: enquires@syacltd.org.uk.