 |
Social Enterprise Autumn E-Newsletter TOOLS FOR INDIVIDUAL AND
COMMUNITY ENTERPRISE |
|
Networking can unlock a whole new world of business opportunities for enterprising people - a chance to meet people who can open doors, share experiences and be a source of inspiration and advice. Successful entrepreneurs know all the right people - if you want to make your ideas happen or expand your business profile, you need to get connected - fast! Clare Mahdiyone organiser of the event and Manager of the Stroud based Social Enterprise Centre commented “Networking is an excellent way to expand your business profile and create a local network. Many business referrals and recommendations are generated via networking and this event gives you the unique opportunity to make a large number of local business contacts in just 1 hour!”. This facilitated networking opportunity will take place on Friday 17th November at The Stonehouse Court Hotel, near Stroud, with the first whistle at 12 noon and the final whistle at 1pm, drinks will be provided. So for 1 hour of FREE back to back business networking, simply call Clare at the Social Enterprise Centre on (01453) 762271 or email info@secstroud.org.uk to confirm your attendance, as places are limited.
Testing the market Farmers' market is an ideal way to get customer feedback before launching a product to a wider audience ONE of the biggest mistakes that any entrepreneur can make is to start too big. The risk is of burning up precious start-up capital by hiring fancy offices or taking on an expensive retail outlet before confirming that there is sufficient demand for the product or service he or she intends to provide. One solution is to start small and test the water for your idea with a low-key approach. That way, if your product or service proves not to be the hit with customers you had been hoping for, at least you will not have lost everything. One good way of doing this is to tap into the growing nationwide success of farmers’ markets. By taking a stall for just a few pounds a week you can meet your customers face to face and find out exactly what their opinion is of your products. While farmers’ markets were originally set up to provide an outlet for local farmers to sell their produce directly to the public, the National Farmers’ Retail and Markets Association (Farma), the organisation that is charged with certifying the markets, is keen to encourage so-called non-farming secondary food producers. These are people that are allowed to take stalls all year round to sell quality homemade products such as chutneys, bread and cakes. Rita Exner of Farma said: “If you have never sold to the public before, then taking a stall at a farmers’ market is a great way of learning because you are presenting your products and seeing if they are something that people will actually pay for. “It's an excellent way of keeping in touch with your customers because if they enjoyed your product - or if they didn’t - they will tell you. It’s a great first step.” She added: “Secondary producers are a valuable addition to a market because in general they are not seasonal and so are able to come to the market all year round. It is a trend we would like to encourage.” For information about local farmers markets, please contact Clare Gerbrands at Made in Stroud Farmers Markets on 01453 758060 or email info@madeinstroud.org.uk Wanted social enterprises in children's services The Social Enterprise Coalition is keen to hear about examples of social enterprises successfully delivering children's services to inform its work in this area. The examples could come from a wide range of services, including foster care, residential homes, extended schools, childcare providers, play providers, and organisations providing services for disabled children. you know of any great examples, please email matthew.walsham@socialenterprise.org.uk with brief details. Do you manage your work or does it control you? Time Jugglers is a new workshop which is being run at the Social Enterprise Centre on Tuesday 16th January 2007 - 9.30am to 4.30pm. The workshop will offer some practical suggestions for maintaining a balance between work and home life. And the full day session will cover a range of topics including;
The workshop will end with some action planning and will be followed up one month later by an optional evening session to review what has changed and discuss where more time juggling improvements need to be made. The workshop fee is £50 (£40 concessions) plus an optional £3 for the sandwich lunch. For more details contact Clare on 01453 762271 or clare@secstroud.org.uk South West Social Enterprise Service Pilot Launched The pilot period for the new social enterprise support service is approaching. The pilot, known as South West Social Enterprise Service, will run during October, November and December. The original partners in the consortium have now been joined by Dorset Community Action, who will run an information point in Dorset, for the duration of the pilot. This means that there will be several ways for social enterprises to access the service across the region, but in particular we will be promoting the use of an 0845 number as a first point of access. Details of the number will be published on the RISE website, and those of Co-active, BACEN and Co-operative Futures. A local infrormation event wil be taking place at City Works, Gloucester, on 8th Novmeber and to attend please email: swses@rise-sw.co.uk Ideas to Implementation Want to write a book, learn a new skills, turn a hobby into a business, get a job or get fitter? The Ideas into Implementation, two day workshop being held on 2nd & 3rd December is just for you. The two day workshop runs over the first weekend in December at Little Village Hall, Blockley and costs just £155 to include a light lunch on both days. The sessions cover everything from support to help you develop a clear vision of where you want to be in 6 months time to creating a map of how to get your idea from here to there. This is a participatory and engaging experience in a small group, where both your ideas for the future and current reality are taken seriously. To find out more or to book your palace, simply call Sarah-Jane Menato on (01386) 701868 or email info@sjmcoachingandtraining.co.uk Tax Help Workshop Do you cringe every time the postman drops a brown envelope from the Tax Man through your letterbox? Is your immediate response one of dread and your immediate reaction one of hiding it in the bottom drawer? If so, there will soon be a half day workshop just for you - to help you get over this "brown envelope syndrome". This workshop taking place at the SEC on 22nd November, 9.30 am - 1.00 pm, is aimed at small enterprises that need a helping hand through the tax system - delivered by someone who can show the way through the maze - in real layman's terms. So, if you haven't yet sent in your tax return, if you haven't even opened the evelope - this would be an ideal opportunity to get some help! Who should attend:
What will be covered:
The cost is just £40 per person and to book your place, please call Clare at the SEC on (01453) 762271 or email info@secstroud.org.uk £100 cash prize on offer for small local organisations & businesses! The Social Enterprise Centre is currently undertaking a survey of all organisations, businesses employing 5 people or fewer, home workers and sole traders in the Stroud District Council area to gather their opinions of their property requirements in the next five years. The survey is being managed by the Ethical Property Foundation and consists of a short simple questionnaire that is available on the internet by accessing either the Social Enterprise centre website, http://www.secstroud.org.uk or the Ethical Property Foundation website, http://www.ethicalproperty.org.uk and following the link from there. The Social Enterprise Centre is in the process of developing the Stroud Mezzanine, a high quality office, meeting and conference facility in Stroud town centre. The Mezzanine will offer state of the art accommodation along with business support services to small organisations, businesses and sole traders in the area with a social, environmental or ethical focus in the Stroud District Council area or for national organisations looking for regional representation. This will include local social enterprises, charities, voluntary groups, co-operatives and Community Interest Companies. Completing the questionnaire will automatically enter the respondent into a draw with a cash prize of £100 for the individual or organisation selected at random at the end survey. The survey will be available online from Friday 20th October until midnight on Sunday 5th November and all completed responses received during this time will be entered into the £100 draw. For further information on the Social Enterprise Centre, Stroud please look at our website or contact Clare Mahdiyone, Centre Manager, on 01453 762271. For further information on the survey please contact Richard Hillary at the Ethical Property Foundation on 01453 811537. |
|
The purpose of the Social Enterprise Centre is to enable the development
of social enterprise by offering tools for individual initiative and
community enterprise. Individuals or groups wanting to set up or develop
their project or business as a social enterprise can make use of our
increasing range of services. Everything we do is guided by a clear set of
values and principles. Social Enterprise Centre, 48c High St, Stroud, Glos, GL5 1AN. Tel: 01453 762271 Email: |