Thinking of applying to Santander (SEDA) then this is for you!

Santander Social Enterprise Development Awards (SEDA) – West Midlands Region – workshop for potential applicants
Tuesday 7th May from 9:45am to 12:00pm at BBCCF, Nechells Baths, Nechells Park Road, Nechells, Birmingham, B7 5PD

Event Description:
After a highly successful first year, the Santander Awards are running again this year and will open for applications in late Spring 2013. BBCCF is delighted to be managing the Awards for the East & West Midlands region.

Before this fund is open and we start to accept applications, Santander and BBCCF would like to invite you to a FREE EVENT where we want to share learning from the first year and what makes a successful application. We hope this will encourage you to enter and also help you to strengthen your applications

To book a place please email team@bbccf.org.uk or call 0121 322 5560

School for Social Entrepreneurs – West Midlands – Recruiting a CEO

Well, this is a job some of you out there might fancy?

A high level position to develop the new West Midlands School for Social Entrepreneurs

Application pack (click to download) it includes:

·         Overview information on SSE

·         Brief overview of West Mids SSE

·         Introductory paragraphs on the role and the person we’re looking for

·         Revised JD with new salary range, hours negotiable and revised priorities, experience and skills

Deadline for applications is 10am Monday 15th April.

Good Luck!

 

 

£4000 to Start a Social Enterprise – SSE comes to the West Midlands

The School for Social Enterprise (SSE) is launching in the West Midlands and only has two weeks to go!

SSE West Midlands are currently recruiting social entrepreneurs and also want to see organisations / support providers that are interested or want to find out more.

Here’s the detail from our friends at SSE

Things are moving fast now for the new school and we have decided to hold some taster sessions for potential students to find out a little more about the school and what we offer them during the upcoming Lloyds West Midlands SSE course (www.yourideastartshere.co.uk) in the West Midlands.

 

Come and meet us at the following venues:-

• Wednesday the 20^th March — The Renewal Family Centre, Vulcan Road, Solihull,  B91 2JY   17.30 – 19.30*
•  Monday the 25^th March — Room 201 UCB Building, Colmore Row, Birmingham,    B3 2AP     14.30 – 16.30*
•  Wednesday the 27^th of March — Goldmine Centre, The Vine Trust, 33 Lower Hall Lane, Walsall WS1 1RR   17.30 – 19.30*

*As this is a new school to the region we have also booked the venues for a three hour session prior to the taster sessions to enable interested parties (eg. established social entrepreneurs, social enterprise and business advisers, local authorities, charities and third sector organisations etc) to just drop in and find out more about the school.

For further details please see the attached flyer

 

Healthwatch Birmingham – Strategic and Operational Job Opportunities

Healthwatch Birmingham is a groundbreaking independent social enterprise that will put the voice of local people at the heart of health and social care services across the city.   The organisation – which will be one of the largest of its type in the UK – will have a remit that is far-reaching in being able to influence, signpost and advise the public regarding a range of NHS, public health and social care services.

Healthwatch Birmingham are currently recruiting for the following roles:

Chair of the Board – £15k per annum

This critical position is the “face” of Healthwatch Birmingham, and will act as an ambassador for the organisation.  The successful applicant will provide strategic direction to Healthwatch Birmingham, and be able to demonstrate outstanding leadership, partnership and communication skills that ensure the organisation becomes the recognised consumer champion for Health and Social Care services in England’s second city.
Closing Date applications: 11th March 2013

Non-Executive Directors – £2k per annum

Non Executive Directors will support the Chair in the governance of Healthwatch Birmingham, providing a range of complementary skills which will include finance, business planning, legal, equality and health and safety. Suitable candidates will also have the knowledge and passion to champion specific Healthwatch functions at a strategic level.

Closing Date applications: 18th March 2013

For further information on the board roles or for details on how to apply, please contact Michele Saul on 0121 678 8824 or email micheles@bvsc.org <mailto:micheles@bvsc.org>

Chief Operating Officer
Salary – £40,000 to £50,000 per annum

Reporting to the Chair of Healthwatch Birmingham, the postholder will support and guide the Chair and Board in implementing the organisation’s statutory and contractual obligations.  This role will also provide strategic support, leadership and operational management in the design and implementation of Healthwatch Birmingham’s business plan, including appropriate income generation.



Closing date for applications – 11th March 2013 (by 10.00 am)

Member & Volunteer Co-ordinator

Salary – £27,052 – £28,636 per annum

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer the post holder will be responsible for extending the reach of Healthwatch Birmingham to a broader and diverse range of citizens and groups within the city.  The role will develop and implement volunteer involvement in Healthwatch Birmingham and take responsibility for the effective operation of the organisation’s Enter and View function.

Closing date for applications – 11th March 2013 (by 10.00 am)
For further information on the staff roles or to request an application pack please contact Kam Sandhu-Patel on 0121 6788809 or e-mail kams@bvsc.org

This is a direct circulation of the Healthwatch

Social Enterprise Start up and Business Development Support – Birmingham

The Enterprise catalyst Project

I recently started working on the Enterprise catalyst project with Digbeth Trust. The project provides intensive support to individuals who want to start a social enterprise and even has some seed funding to get the idea going.

In addition the project helps and grows existing businesses in the area with the possibility of support with business development grants of up to £10k.

“The project titled Enterprise Catalyst, seeks to raise entrepreneurial levels to help new businesses get started, and offers customised enterprise coaching and financial assistance (where required).”

A mentoring and support service is also available to existing businesses ensuring sustainable growth.

To be eligible for the programme you must be:

• a business start-up – resident within the qualifying wards*
• an existing business – based within the qualifying wards*

Please note that this is a European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) programme, and as such we cannot support retail activity. Existing retail businesses that wish to diversify into other markets may be eligible for support.

To discuss your business idea or check eligibility please call 0121 675 7580.

*List of qualifying wards:

• Aston
• Bordesley Green
• Hodge Hill
• Ladywood
• Lozells and East Handsworth
• Moseley and Kings Heath
• Nechells
• Soho
• South Yardley
• Sparkbrook
• Springfield
• Washwood Heath

Don’t miss the opportunity, get in touch today! Who now’s you may even get some free business support delivered by me as part of the project [there are others working on the programme too]

Enterprising Future Event – Social Enterprise West Midlands

If you work with children or young people and want to consider social enterprise, then this event is for you.

Following on from the success of previous ‘Enterprising Future’ events SEWM is working with SEUK to run another business support event for organisations working with children and young people (CYP).

The event is for Children and Young People’s organisations interested in finding out more about social enterprise as a potential model. An Enterprising Future will take you on a journey through setting up a social enterprise, featuring inspirational case studies, an introduction to the business model, and then breaking off into workshops, business advice and networking sessions.

Case studies include:

• New Hope CIC and
• Fourth Wall Theatre Network,

Workshops from:

• DYNAMIC Marketing and
• Development in Social Enterprise.

When:  9:30-3:30pm, 7^th February 2013, Where : The Signing Tree Conference Centre, Birmingham.

For more information and to register to attend click here.

Reproduced with consent from SEWM

SEWM – Social Enterprise Awards

Social Enterprise Day [15th November] is just around the corner and I have to say that the cuts in recent years has certainly reduced the number of networking and social enterprise events that I’m aware of, so I thought I’d flag this one up.

Development in Social Enterprise is a member of Social Enterprise West Midlands which is a support network for social entrepreneurs, business advisers like ourselves and social enterprise supporters. This year SEWM have run a number of successful events and are running the West Midlands Social Enterprise Awards winners will be announced on Social Enterprise day.

There’s still time to get your nominations in and the award categories are:

Choose an Awards category…

• SE people – a fabulous organisation that contributes to the community
• SE planet – an organisation that really is saving the environment
• SE profit – a social enterprise with a commitment to grow
• SE prima – a business that innovates beyond all expectations
• SE professional – a fantastic individual providing business support (Third-party nomination required)
• SE partner – a great supporter of social enterprise and social value (Third-party nomination required)

Here are the forms you’ll need:

• info and overview of the awards
• Nomination form.

Might see you there  and who knows I might get nominated for something too.

Free Business [#socent] Events #Solihull

I thought I’d just flag up some free business events for Solihull businesses, some of which are useful to social enterprise too.

Solihull for Success Business Workshops:

Open to business in Solihull, the following workshops will be held at Solihull College Conference Centre 8:00am  – 10:00am

• 13^th November    Digital Marketing, hot and getting warmer. Making the most of social marketing and digital media. Speaker : Gray Dudek, Planet 9 Digital Agency
•  27^th November    Dealing with difficult employees, practical advice  on a fair disciplinary process. Understand your role as an employer, making sure you get it right for the individual and right for the business. Speakers : Daniel Zakis & Steve Stewart, from Wallace Robinson & Morgan & Steps to Apprenticeships. Routes to your future workforce and how Solihull Council can support you.
• 4^th December New Markets, in and outside the EU. Top tips, advice and guidance, and support to taking your product to new markets overseas. Speakers: Robbie Beak and Mark Starkey UKTI
•  12^th December     Fit to Supply (This workshop will be 8:00 – 11:30am). Training on public and contract procurement, not just to win contracts but to win sub contracting opportunities. Facilitator: Terry Wilson, from Business Enterprise Group

To register, e-mail your name, organisation, job title, address and any access requirements to: business@solihull.gov.uk or call Isobel, Jon or Clare on tel: 0121 704 6151.

Sustainable Solihull for Success

• 4^th      December     Jaguar Land Rover – Sustainability Business. Solihull businesses are invited to see first hand how Jaguar Land Rover are driving forward sustainability at their Lode Lane Plant on for a tour of the plant, following vehicle production from start to finish.

To register, e-mail your name, organisation, job title, address and any access requirements to: sustainabilityvisioning@solihull.gov.uk or call Alexander Heath on tel: 0121 704 6529.

Charitable Incorporated Organisation – update

Just a quick post to update you all on the Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) legal structure. Interestingly I was discussing this as an option with a client the other day, but advised him to ‘not hold his breath’, as it had been talked about for years and seemed to be at a standstill.

However, Anthony Collins Solicitors, have recently updated us and noted that two key pieces of legislation have been passed in October which suggest that the CIO structure may be accepting its first applications ‘by the end of  this year’.

If you would like to find out a little more then Anthony Collins have an update here

50in250 Comes to Birmingham

The Social Enterprise Mark Company came to our great city (Birmingham) today for the regional launch of their 50in250 campaign. The 50in250 campaign is a challenge to the private sector to contract with ‘bona fide’ social enterprise that have proved they trade for ‘people and planet’ by achieving the Social Enterprise Mark, as our CIC (Development in Social Enterprise) has.

The launch was hosted at Birmingham Voluntary Sector Council’s (BVSC) conference centre and organised by Social Enterprise West Midlands (SEWM) and the Social Enterprise Mentor Network.

The event coincided with the Social Value Bill making it to legislation an opportunity for MP Chris White to tell us why he had introduced the bill and what it meant for the social enterprise sector. Unfortunately Chris must be a busy man as he couldn’t stay to answer any questions although a panel had been assembled who fielded a range of questions about the bill and the 50in250 campaign.

For those of you who would like a simple guide as to the implications of the bill this Social Enterprise UK guide is a good starting point.

Wates construction (who are ahead of the game when it comes to contracting with Social Enterprises) made an interesting point with regard to the importance of the Social Enterprise Mark, saying that they (Wates) had found it difficult to find social enterprises to enter their supply chain and the Mark helped them to do this and have some confidence that the enterprise was a ‘real’ social enterprise.

If you would like to find a social enterprise to contract with then you can start in two places the social enterprise mark holders directory or the BuySE directory. Happy hunting!