Social
Enterprise
Social Enterprises can be started by individuals, groups or even entire communities but the important thing is that while they trade, the wealth they create and the profits they make must be used to benefit the community in some way; they are 'not-for-profit' businesses
Social Enterprises are usually started by people who see that something needs doing which neither the public or private sectors are good at. Very often these are tailored goods and services designed to meet the needs of particular individuals, groups and communities. They are legitimate, incorporated businesses with a representative board of directors and enthusiastic employees and volunteers.
The central contact point for enquiries about social enterprise is located within Business Liverpool. Contact Jerry Spencer, 233-5453 or Mike Maguire, 233-5328. Liverpool City Council also supports social enterprise through a network of local enterprise agencies where you can find business advisors able to help you plan, establish and develop a social enterprise. All you need is the idea.
Training Opportunities
Existing and budding social entrepreneurs could do worse than to join the Academy for Sustainable Enterprise, offering a range of learning and capacity-building by way of taster-days and 1 and 2-day courses in planning, finance, marketing and running a social enterprise, open to community activists, managers, volunteers and committee members wanting to play a bigger role in their business/organisation.
For more details contact Blackburne House Education on 709-4356, email bh.wtec@blackburnehouse.co.uk or go to www.sustainable-enterprise.org.uk
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News: It is likely that by the time you read this, a Liverpool branch of the School for Social Entrepreneurs will have been established, offering free places to 10 local social entrepreneurs. For information on the School for Social Entrepreneurs go to www.sse.org.uk |
Merseyside Business Bridge
Merseyside Business Bridge is an innovative program of free workshops running between September 2007 and February 2008 which gives social enterprises and entrepreneur’s access to private sector expertise via seminars led by business leaders. The first workshop will make use of a highly-effective diagnostic tool to test your contract-readiness and following workshops will cover topics such as Legal & Governance; Marketing; Finance; Improving Performance; People Management.
For more information or to register an interest, please e-mail info@c-csolutions.co.uk or contact Paul Hodson at Business in the Community on 0151 706 9500 or go to www.bitc.org.uk/events
For a host of information on social enterprises and possible funding, go to
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Merseyside Social Enterprise Network www.sen.org.uk |
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Merseyside Social Enterprise Initiative www.msei.org.uk |
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Merseyside Special Investment Fund www.msif.co.uk |
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Small Business Service www.sbs.gov.uk |
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Social Enterprise Coalition www.socialenterprise.org.uk |
