First for South East’s Social Enterprises
24 September 2007
Entrepreneurs in the South East thinking of starting a social enterprise will be the first in the country to benefit from a new specially designed course.
Organised by Business Link, the free workshops, which are being held across the region, will examine the fast growing phenomenon of social enterprises. Participants will be able to explore exactly what a social enterprise is, as well as providing useful tips and practical tools to motivate attendees to begin researching, planning and developing a social enterprise.
Well-known social enterprises – businesses with a primarily social objective that reinvest profits in the business or in the community – include Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen, the Eden Project, Cafédirect and The Big Issue.
Business Link’s Deborah Wyatt said: "Social enterprises create innovative solutions to social need. Traditional businesses are usually established when someone has identified a gap in the market that they can meet whereas social enterprises are started to meet a social need that is either not being addressed or could be addressed more effectively.
"We estimate that 5% of all start up companies are social enterprises. Our customers have been asking for assistance in setting up this type of business so we are expecting a high demand for the workshops; in fact, the first one has already sold out! We are very proud to be the first region to offer a Business Link course specifically aimed at those who have recently started, or are thinking of starting, a social enterprise.
"The social enterprise sector includes co-operatives, development trusts, community enterprises, housing associations, football supporter's trusts, Social Firms and leisure trusts. As a result, social enterprises use a wide variety of legal forms and it is important to choose the correct legal structure. Attending the workshops will give delegates an overview of the options available and will also look at the challenges of funding such a business."
The workshops, which have been developed with the assistance of the South East Social Enterprise County Network and are supported by the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), will take place across the South East from September 2007.
For further information, including workshop dates and venues, and to apply for a place, please call Business Link on 0845 600 9 006.
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