Early STEPS Nursery

Stocksbridge has a tremendous legacy in its local steelworks spanning many decades and the works dominate the valley but the numbers employed are a fraction of years gone by and the town has of necessity had to look to other means of developing its future.
Such a decline in the steel industry has had a long term effect on the local community and local businesses all of whom benefited from a thriving works, but suffer at times of decline.
This was recognised by a group of concerned local residents who saw those at disadvantage in the community suffering at the lack of local services to help and assist.. Analysis of Training Needs Opportunities for Stocksbridge indicated higher levels of unemployment than those officially being reported and a latent demand for additional locally provided education and training provision.
It was also recognised that in order to stimulate new business, provision would have to be made for affordable new and local business space and business advice on how to successfully grow small businesses.
So, Stocksbridge Training & Enterprise Partnership (STEP), was formed in 1997 to address these issues.
In order to diversify the local employment base previously reliant on the steel sector STEP secured further funding to acquire a site and build a new STEP Business Centre at Deepcar, offering 12,000 sq ft of Managed workspace, and access to an on site business adviser.
STEP merged with Stocksbridge Futures Partnership (SFP) in October 2008 to form the new STEP Development Trust, with a broader brief to promote the social and economic regeneration of the area and use the full range of its charitable objectives.
STEP is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee.
We aim to put the community at the heart of what we do by helping to build the capacity of local people and local organisations achieve their goals and make a significant improvement in the well being of the town and its inhabitants.
To date, the membership of the Trust has been restricted by invitation only, with all members acting as Trustees of the Board.
We are committed to achieving equality in all aspects of our operation and opposed to all forms of unlawful or unfair discrimination against groups and individuals, believing all should be treated with equal respect.
STEP is legally constituted as a group of three companies, registered in England & Wales;.
STEP Development Trust is the parent company, with the other two businesses operating the trading activities on behalf of the Trust all profits being assigned to the Charity.
The Board has five Trustees charged with the overall governance and management of the Trust, all of whom are dedicated individuals who give up their time and expertise totally unpaid, for the benefit of the organisation.
Their skills and experience enable STEP to represent the community it serves.
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