Enterprising Communities from SmithMartin LLP

community development and enterprise creation

Tag: business planning

Your Social Enterprise start-up experience…

By

On August 2, 2017

In community economics, enterprise, News, Social enterprise

Social Enterprise UK, with the support of generous sponsorship by NatWest Bank, have just published their ‘Start Your Social Enterprise’ booklet.

A featured article from our archive: still pertinent and encouraging!

This is a great primer on social enterprise, clearly laid out and packed with information for those of you about to start your SocEnt journey.

Start your Social Enterprise image and web link

See more here – pdf

You can view, print or download a copy of this publication here (pdf).

The chapters include sections on Mission, Market and Money, as well as Marketing and Branding and the all important Business Plan.

There is also a very clear grid format page which illustrates the choices of good governance you can pursue, in order to control and support your Social Enterprise ambitions as a community.

We particularly liked the SEUK section on Looking After Yourself.

It is easy, in the whirl of excitement and drive to make things happen to forget about individual well-being in pursuit of the goal. We have repeated the sensible advice below…

”Pay yourself properly – as soon as is practically possible, pay
yourself properly; some social entrepreneurs pay other people
first in the organisation, but everyone needs to live…

Find a mentor – a mentor is someone independent outside your organisation to talk to who can provide advice and support to you; organisations like UnLtd and the School for Social Entrepreneurs will often link you to mentors as part of their support, but you may be able to identify your own…

Be part of networks – there are lots of local, regional and national groups and networks for social enterprises, from national bodies like Social Enterprise UK to the Social Enterprise Places across the country to local and regional networks like SELNET in Lancashire or SEEE in the East of England; they will often run events, send newsletters with information, and provide connections to others. (…and SocEntEastMids too…Ed).

Don’t neglect family and friends – take time out, spend time with
the people you like and love, and you will be better refreshed, more
focused and more productive when you return to the enterprise…

Keep learning – this is a fast-moving world, and there are new developments, opportunities and information to find out about; events and newsletters can help with this, as can podcasts or books on business and social enterprise…”

Source: Social Enterprise UK, Start your social enterprise, p.13   Accessed 02.08.2017

A useful addition to your basket of information when building your community business to effect change.

We recommend it as a great starting point for changing the world, or even a bit of it that starts right at your front door!

SmithMartin image and support services

Helping community enterprise flourish

The Community Business Trade Up Programme

By

On January 16, 2019

In community economics, enterprise, funding, News, social business, Social enterprise

The School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) have, this 2019 New Year, published details of new, free learning and development courses for the leaders of the community business sector in the UK.

Free learning at SSE...image and web link
Free learning at SSE…see more

“Applications are open for the Community Business Trade Up Programme, run by the School for Social Entrepreneurs, in partnership with Power to Change.

This programme helps the leaders of community businesses in England. It focuses on growing income from trading, to improve impact and sustainability. It offers:

  • A learning programme: 12 days spread over nine months
  • A Match Trading grant of up to £10,000
  • A community of people running organisations like yours

There is no cost to you at any point”.

If this learning and funding opportunity is of interest to you and your community business, you can see the guidance and application notes here.

SSE are offering taster sessions across the regions, so that you can explore the opportunity, and you can find a taster session booking form here.

This learning programme runs from June 2019 to March 2020. 

The deadline to apply is 1pm on 14th February 2019. Explore all the details at SSE here.

Lloyds Bank and Bank of Scotland Social Entrepreneurs Programme - image and web link
Read more here…

Lloyds Bank and Bank of Scotland Social Entrepreneurs Programme

This SSE Programme may also be of interest to our readers. You can discover the details of the learning and support on offer from the programme partners here.

  • A learning programme (14 days spread over a year)
  • A grant
  • Mentoring
  • A supportive community

You can register your interest, and be notified when this year’s applications (2019/2020) are open on this web page at SSE…

https://www.the-sse.org/lbsep/

This post first appeared on the pages of www.miningtheseem.org.uk – our SocEntEastMids, our ‘supporting community’ business in the East Midlands.

SmithMartin image and support services

Helping community enterprise flourish

Social Investment Tax Relief Fund?

By

On September 20, 2016

In Charities, community economics, enterprise, funding, Social enterprise

Investment in Britain’s children, youth and vulnerable communities…

supportingfamiliesimage‘The Bright Futures Fund represents a real opportunity for ambitious charities and social enterprises to access the capital they need to expand and scale their work, with a particular focus on those that are working to improve the lives of children, young people and other vulnerable groups throughout the UK.

The Fund has a specific focus on organisations which are delivering effective interventions to improve the lives of children, young people and vulnerable groups. Some of the issues that investees will tackle include helping children to avoid entering foster care; ensuring access to education; and improving the most important early years of a child’s life’.

Source: Bright Futures SITR Fund  http://www.brightfuturesfund.co.uk/    Accessed: 20.09.2016

You can explore SITR, and view some interesting case studies, on the web pages of Big Society Capital here.

pdfIcon4Whether as an investee, or an investor, there is a wealth of information available from Big Society Capital, including an SITR Property Guidance Paper which some charity Boards may find useful.

SmithMartin image and support services

Helping community enterprise flourish

 

Power to Change – fund now open

By

On July 28, 2016

In community economics, enterprise, funding, Social enterprise

Power to Change – business in community hands has re-opened their £10m fund to help community businesses of all types to apply for money to develop their work.

”Power to Change awards grants to grow and develop community businesses.

The second window for applications to our £10 million Community Business Fund is now open until 31 August. We will also have an application window open in October.

Through the fund, we will award grants between £50,000 – £300,000 to community businesses in England.”

Source: Power to Change web pages  Accessed: 28.07.2016

Your community enterprise must meet the following criteria…

  • Locally rooted
  • Accountable to the local community
  • Trading for the benefit of the local community
  • Have broad community impact

Community Leadership:

There is also a community leader development scheme embedded within the work of Power to Change. The Leadership Academy, in partnership with the RSA, the Real Ideas Organisation and Sheffield University Management School, provides individuals with opportunities to develop their skills.

See more here.

SmithMartin image and support services

Helping community enterprise flourish

Our Urban Shop,
The Plunkett Foundation

By

On November 9, 2015

In community, community economics, enterprise, funding, social business

 

‘Our Urban Shop is a unique pilot project that aims to help urban communities in the UK overcome the issues of buying good food locally.

We’ve partnered with Locality and received funding from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation to help urban communities access the support and resources available for rural communities to set up community-owned shops…’  (Source: The Plunkett Foundation, Nov. 2015)

The programme application process is now open for this new Foundation initiative. See more here.

The Plunkett Foundation have already helped ten urban groups to explore the potential of their urban community owned shop idea. Is the time right for your community?

The Foundation will make grants of between 20,000 and thirty thousand pounds, and it is open  to applications from across the UK.

interneticon    You can download the grant guidelines and application forms here on the Foundation web site. The short film below gives you some headline advice and information about the project plans.

Our Urban Shop from Plunkett Foundation on Vimeo.

You can find more detailed scoping advice to download from the Foundation below…if you do apply, good luck!

SmithMartin image and support services

Helping community enterprise flourish

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén