Videos from the Social Enterprise Wales Conference 2011, are now available to view on the Wales Co-operative Centre website. There is some really inspiring talk from the keynote speakers, including Liam Black, Duncan Goose, and Powys' own Brian Popsys. There is also footage available from several workshops that took place. There was a particularly interesting one on Community Shares, which gave the Pengwern Arms in Llan Ffestiniog as an example of what can be achieved.
To view the videos go to: http://live.walescooperative.org/
Tuesday 13 December 2011
Welsh Government Opens £15 Million Economic Growth Fund
The Welsh Government has launched a new £15 million programme, the Wales Economic Growth Fund, designed to help businesses through the prevailing economic downturn.
The initiative is a short-term, fast-track fund for Welsh businesses, providing immediate access to non-repayable capital funding for investments that will create and retain employment opportunities.
A total of £15 million is available through the programme. The minimum funding level is £100,000.
Eligible expenditure can include new investment in capital assets (machinery, computer equipment, buildings etc). Intellectual property bought from a third party, professional fees and other one off costs related to the investment may also be eligible.
Revenue costs associated with the capital investment are also eligible.
Companies that have projects planned to improve productivity and create and maintain jobs may be eligible for support.
The deadline for receipt of applications is 31 January 2012.
For more details contact:
(Source: Grantfinder)
Thursday 8 December 2011
Report details the state of Social Enterprise in 2011 in Britain.
I came across a report whilst researching information for the blog, on the Social Enterprise Coalition website. The report is titled: Fightback Britain - The State of Social Enterprise Survey 2011 - it makes for interesting reading.
Go to: http://www.socialenterprise.org.uk/advice-support/resources/fightback-britain-report-the-state-social-enterprise-survey-2011 to access the report.
They also have a range of free downloadable resources for groups thinking / doing social enterprise.
Go to: http://www.socialenterprise.org.uk/advice-support/resources?page=1
Go to: http://www.socialenterprise.org.uk/advice-support/resources/fightback-britain-report-the-state-social-enterprise-survey-2011 to access the report.
They also have a range of free downloadable resources for groups thinking / doing social enterprise.
Go to: http://www.socialenterprise.org.uk/advice-support/resources?page=1
Wednesday 7 December 2011
PAVO SUPPORT FOR SOCIAL ENTERPRISE
PAVO is here to support groups and organisations to achieve their aims and objectives. Did you know that we can provide support around:
- Start up (Information on structures),
- Support for groups to examine - Social enterprise: is it for you?
- Mentoring and support – to set up a structure which meets the groups’ needs
- Guidance on developing a project
- Support to prepare a business plan
- Funding support – support to develop skills for preparing applications and managing and monitoring funding
- Support on raising funds, ICT, events etc.
- Support with Tendering applications
- Preparation or amendment of governing documents
- Developing policies and procedures Policies (everything from equalities to safeguarding)
- Providing model policies (everything from equalities to safeguarding)
- Jargon busting
- Support to engage with the community and/ or service users
- Bespoke training
- Access to training
- Advice on volunteering
- Outreach mini events
- Facilitate multi-agency task groups for potential social enterprise initiatives
For more information contact the PAVO Helpdesk on 0845 009 3288 or email: info@pavo.org.uk
Monday 5 December 2011
People Who Share
The People Who Share is both a movement and a socially minded business (a social enterprise). They are dedicated to building a world where people share skills, time, resources, knowledge, responsibility, opportunities, ideas, goods, services and stuff.
Follow the link to an interesting article to find out more:
It's an idea, but is it a business?
Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) have published a free guide for groups who are planning to start trading or already do, and plan to use any profits to achieve sustainability or for another charitable purpose. It covers subjects such as getting started, business planning, the role of directors, financial monitoring and much more besides, and is rammed with invaluable advice and guidance.
To download the guide go to: http://www.wcva.org.uk/all/dsp_Pub_list.cfm?Publicationid=1340&catid=4&display_sitetextid=167&display_sitedeptid=6
(Source: WCVA)
To download the guide go to: http://www.wcva.org.uk/all/dsp_Pub_list.cfm?Publicationid=1340&catid=4&display_sitetextid=167&display_sitedeptid=6
(Source: WCVA)
Charitable Incorporated Organisation Status still to be approved by Parliament
The Charity Commission yesterday blamed Parliament for the ongoing delays in implementing the Charitable Incorporated Organisation.
Kenneth Dibble, head of legal services at the Charity Commission, told the Charity Law Association annual conference that the Commission “has been ready for many months” to begin registering CIOs.
“But secondary legislation has to be agreed by Parliament and that is not a matter that is within the Commission’s hands,” he said.
He said the Commission’s latest understanding is that CIOs would be ready to be implemented from spring of next year: “I know that last time we said autumn, and it keeps slipping, but now I’m told it’s next spring.”
He added there was a groundswell of interest in CIOs, and that Jane Ryder at OSCR had told him that the SCIO is starting to prove a valuable model in Scotland. “I have no doubt that that will happen here too,” Dibble said.
“I also know that lots of trustees are holding fire on certain proposals while they wait for CIOs to come in, and for the Commission’s part I apologise, but the Commission has been ready for some time for the CIO regime.”
“But secondary legislation has to be agreed by Parliament and that is not a matter that is within the Commission’s hands,” he said.
He said the Commission’s latest understanding is that CIOs would be ready to be implemented from spring of next year: “I know that last time we said autumn, and it keeps slipping, but now I’m told it’s next spring.”
He added there was a groundswell of interest in CIOs, and that Jane Ryder at OSCR had told him that the SCIO is starting to prove a valuable model in Scotland. “I have no doubt that that will happen here too,” Dibble said.
“I also know that lots of trustees are holding fire on certain proposals while they wait for CIOs to come in, and for the Commission’s part I apologise, but the Commission has been ready for some time for the CIO regime.”
(Source: Civil Society)
Tuesday 29 November 2011
Village SOS roadshow spreads the word
The Village SOS roadshow took place at Talgarth Mill yesterday. Talgarth Mill was featured on the BBC Village SOS series earlier this year, after successfully being awarded lottery funding. The Village SOS programme is all about inspiring community action and empowering people to come together to make a difference in their communities.
If you missed the roadshow, but have an enterprising idea, or are looking for inspiration go to:
www.villagesos.org.uk or go to #villagesos on twitter.
The website has got some really interesting videos on it, and your community can sign up to be a member. there a re also forums which you can participate in. So have a look today, let us know what you think.
If you missed the roadshow, but have an enterprising idea, or are looking for inspiration go to:
www.villagesos.org.uk or go to #villagesos on twitter.
The website has got some really interesting videos on it, and your community can sign up to be a member. there a re also forums which you can participate in. So have a look today, let us know what you think.
Friday 18 November 2011
Baker Boys are back
The BBC Wales drama following a group of employees who buy out their bakery when their parent company tries to close it returns for a second series on Thursday 24th November.
The original series followed the trials and tribulations of the bakery staff as they formed a buy-out team and raised the finances to take over the company. The series examined the issues a real buy out team would face – distrust, initial reluctance, the fear of investing redundancy payments and the effects that the process can have on relationships with family and friends.
During the screening of the next series, Wales Co-operative Centre will be publishing a series of short blogs about key themes that are raised in the show.
To find out more, follow @WalesCoOp and the hashtags #bakerboys and #walescooperative and check the blog http://walescooperative.wordpress.com/ for regular updates.
(Source: Wales Co-operative Centre)
Social Enterprise Wales Conference 2011
I attended the Wales Co-operative Centre Social Enterprise Wales Conference this week. It was great to hear from those who had been through the process, and had come out the other side. Some really inspiring speakers including Brian Popsys of Beacons Creatives in Brecon , and Liam Black, formerly of Fifteen. the overwhelming message was to get on and do it, and not to be scared of profit - profit is good!
On the Wales Co-operative Centre website you will soon be able to view the presentations made at the conference. For more information go to: http://live.walescooperative.org/
On the Wales Co-operative Centre website you will soon be able to view the presentations made at the conference. For more information go to: http://live.walescooperative.org/
Tuesday 8 November 2011
VILLAGE SOS ROADSHOW COMES TO TALGARTH MILL
Rural communities across South Wales are being urged to attend a free event in Talgarth that will see business experts and rural specialists descend on the town to help struggling communities revive their villages.
Talgarth has been announced in the UK-wide events series as part of the Big Lottery Fund’s Village SOS campaign, which is supporting communities across the UK to start up new enterprises - from shops and food projects to broadband schemes - that will help to rejuvenate their areas and meet the needs of local people.
The event, organised by rural communities charity Plunkett Foundation with DTA Wales, takes place on Monday 28th November at Talgarth Mill
For more information about the events series or the advice line, contact the Advice Team on 0845 434 9123 or visit www.villagesos.org.uk.
(Source: Big Lottery)
(Source: Big Lottery)
Global Entrepreneurship Week UK 14th - 20th November 2011
Next week, sees the Global Entrepreneurship Week UK taking place. This is a national celebration of business enterprise with thousands of events and activities taking place all over the country.
The Global Entrepreneurship Week website, has a wealth of information on it. Here you can find out what's going on in Wales - there are loads of events that you can take part in. The website says that they:
"..want to create a national conversation about entrepreneurship which will help to connect people, share ideas and address regional issues to drive the next generation of business owners."
For more information go to: http://www.gew.org.uk/home
The Global Entrepreneurship Week website, has a wealth of information on it. Here you can find out what's going on in Wales - there are loads of events that you can take part in. The website says that they:
"..want to create a national conversation about entrepreneurship which will help to connect people, share ideas and address regional issues to drive the next generation of business owners."
For more information go to: http://www.gew.org.uk/home
Confused by definitions?
Following on from the you tube clip previously posted, I thought it may be useful to have a definition of social enterprise on the blog - this was no mean feat! During my research I found several definitions, but think that this one explains it succinctly, and is easy to understand:
"Social enterprises are trading business with social or environmental goals at their core. Unlike private businesses social enterprises are not driven by profit, they balance the need to run a competitive busineess with their equally important social and environmental aims. Any profit generated (often referred to as social profit) is reinvested to help achieve those aims."
(Wales Co-operative Centre)
This definition encompasses the many different sectors in which social enterprises flourish.
"Social enterprises are trading business with social or environmental goals at their core. Unlike private businesses social enterprises are not driven by profit, they balance the need to run a competitive busineess with their equally important social and environmental aims. Any profit generated (often referred to as social profit) is reinvested to help achieve those aims."
(Wales Co-operative Centre)
This definition encompasses the many different sectors in which social enterprises flourish.
Friday 4 November 2011
Thursday 3 November 2011
One Show Highlights Social Enterprise
Did you see the One Show on BBC1, on Tuesday 2nd November?
There was an interesting report from Alston in Cumbria, where there are no less than 15 community social enterprises in place. Between them they provide 90 jobs, and a combined annual turnover of £2.5 million. There is a diverse range of enterprises including the local bakery, wholefood shop and internet / broadband provider, Cybermoor. At the local cottage hospital, Cybermoor have provided a video link so that patients can be assessed via video, which is especially useful in the winter months, when Alston is often cut off. The community are so resourceful they even have their own snow plough.
If you want to take a look, the One Show can be found on the BBCi player.
There was an interesting report from Alston in Cumbria, where there are no less than 15 community social enterprises in place. Between them they provide 90 jobs, and a combined annual turnover of £2.5 million. There is a diverse range of enterprises including the local bakery, wholefood shop and internet / broadband provider, Cybermoor. At the local cottage hospital, Cybermoor have provided a video link so that patients can be assessed via video, which is especially useful in the winter months, when Alston is often cut off. The community are so resourceful they even have their own snow plough.
If you want to take a look, the One Show can be found on the BBCi player.
Friday 28 October 2011
Welcome to the blog!
Following on from the success of the PAVO Funding Blog, we are introducing this blog for regular updates, information and news on social enterprise and trading. We also want it to be a mechanism for discussion, and sharing of experiences, so we hope that you will contribute.
is there anything in particular that you are looking for? let us know, and we'll do our best to find it.
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