The main objective of Zest is to increase the economic prosperity of the people and businesses in the Netherthorpe, Upperthorpe and Langsett areas. We have a Local Economic Development Strategy with five key aims being:

• to promote awareness of, and access to, appropriate service provision
• to create a culture of participation and progression
• to raise skills levels
• to provide access to employment
• to promote enterprise, including social enterprise
  

Zest is a company limited by guarantee and a charity, which is run and managed by the local community. The Trustees are elected on a rotating basis at the Annual General Meeting. Six trustees are local residents and three trustees are "stakeholders" who can contribute particular skills and expertise.
As a community-led development trust, the involvement and participation of local people is essential and we hold many events, workshops and activities as well as specific projects.

Zest is based in Upperthorpe and currently employs around 60 Staff with an annual turnover of £2 million.   Our current services include the innovative Zest Centre; the One Stop Shop for Employment; Training and Enterprise and Zest for Children and Young People.   In addition Zest is the lead body for Sheffield’s third sector youth consortium and has a Director of Sheffield’s Wellbeing Consortium. 

The company acquired accountable body status in January 2001 and was one of the first community-led accountable bodies in the country, successfully managing a £15 million regeneration programme.

Zest also has a successful trading arm, NUCA Consultancy Limited (NCL), which delivers consultancy services.