Social Firms UK

A resource pack for social enterprise providers and commissioners.

The Association of Disabled Professionals has written and produced a plain English Resource Guide, Directory of Support and Quick Reference Guide to support disabled people who want to set up in business. It is intended that the guide will also be used by business advisers within mainstream organisations. As well as ensuring that key issues are covered, such as tax, funding, mentoring and different types of business opportunity, it also includes stories from disabled entrepreneurs and their experiences of starting up in business. The guide is available in a number of formats including large print, braille, easy read and electronic format. To order a copy, email adp.admin@ntlworld.com or visit www.adp.org.uk

This tool helps assess the viability of a business to become a social enterprise. It enables the quality of employment, workplace support issues and employee development opportunities to be assessed in businesses that might be replicated as Social Firms or social enterprises. It comes in Word format in order to allow your own text to be added. This document was is an adaptation of a tool produced by Social Firms Australia as part of a business buy-out programme. It has been produced with the support of the Small Business Service.

How to draw up a business plan for your Social Firm. 

Advice on writing a business plan can also be found at the Business Link website at http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/layer?topicId=1073869162

This toolkit is designed to help social enterprises examine for themselves the feasibility of their business idea and assess whether or not it has the potential to work. Although it was originally designed with Social Firms in mind, it is an ideal resource for any type of organisation considering the development of a social enterprise. The DIY approach to business feasibility not only saves money on hiring in external expertise but also empowers staff in increasing their sense of ownership of the business and trains them in business feasibility.

The toolkit costs £90 to non-members of Social Firms UK but is free to members who can download it directly from this website and costs £50 to members of the Social Enterprise UK.

Contact info@socialfirmsuk.co.uk or call 01737 231360 to order your copy.