After extensive research, thejuiceproject.com will open for business early in the New Year 2009. It will be a brand new juice bar serving healthy, delicious smoothies, salads, sandwiches, snacks and light meals. Coffees, teas and hot chocolate are also available. There is no alcohol.

Our research showed that the young people of Great Dunmow are desperate for a place to meet, especially in the early evenings. Somewhere where they can sit and talk with "some activities if we get bored". There will be comfortable seating and free access to computers for browsing the internet or playing games. Free WiFi access for personal laptops will also be available.

thejuiceproject.com is a social enterprise business. Many commercial businesses would consider themselves to have social objectives, but social enterprises are distinctive because their social or environmental purpose is central to what they do. Rather than maximising shareholder value their main aim is to generate profit to further their social and environmental goals.

Well known examples of social enterprises include The Big Issue, Jamie Oliver's restaurant Fifteen, and the fair-trade chocolate company Divine Chocolate.

The 2005 Annual Survey of Small Businesses UK found that there are 55,000 social enterprises in the UK with a combined turnover of £27 billion. Social enterprises account for 5% of all businesses with employees, and contribute £8.4 billion per year to the UK economy.

The aim of thejuiceproject.com is to provide a fun, place to meet and relax, especially for young people. Our research showed that there is a need in Great Dunmow for this exciting new venture. A primary purpose of the business is to provide work experience and training opportunities as an introduction to full time employment. All profits will be used to achieve these aims.