Social Firms UK

Social Firms UK's annual conference.

Visit https://ceis.sym-online.com/registrationforms/sfuk2012/  to book.

** Early Bird tickets until 23rd May 2012**

Background and event objectives

This conference is relevant for organisations and individuals in all three sectors: public, private and civil society. Unemployment is at a record high and spans all sectors; it calls for collective creative solutions. This conference will be of interest to:

 Following the launch of NOMS CFO programme, ‘More than the Sum’, a consortia-building fund aimed at helping small and medium sized enterprises in England be in a position to participate in the delivery of future contracts, another round of support events have now been announced.

These follow up events are highly recommended – even if you were unable to attend the original launch.

More information on the events will be released by NOMS shortly, in the meantime please save the date for your region:

 Acas has launched its first guide to tackle the last taboo in business - mental illness at work. Are you unsure how to handle this situation in your workplace?

You won’t be alone as it’s a fast-growing problem, particularly with workers becoming increasingly concerned about their futures in the economic downturn. Costs to employers in London are an estimated £707million every year in lost production and replacing staff who leave because of mental ill-health. Costs to Britain are around £30 billion.

Mental health experts say that at any one time one worker in six will be experiencing depression, anxiety or stress problems. That works out at around 683,333 of the estimated 4.1 million employees in London.

But they calculate that employers in the area should be able to cut the cost by about a third by improving their management of mental health at work.

 Acas has launched its first guide to tackle the last taboo in business - mental illness at work. Are you unsure how to handle this situation in your workplace?

You won’t be alone as it’s a fast-growing problem, particularly with workers becoming increasingly concerned about their futures in the economic downturn. Costs to employers in London are an estimated £707million every year in lost production and replacing staff who leave because of mental ill-health. Costs to Britain are around £30 billion.

Mental health experts say that at any one time one worker in six will be experiencing depression, anxiety or stress problems. That works out at around 683,333 of the estimated 4.1 million employees in London.

But they calculate that employers in the area should be able to cut the cost by about a third by improving their management of mental health at work.

  Acas has launched its first guide to tackle the last taboo in business - mental illness at work. Are you unsure how to handle this situation in your workplace?

You won’t be alone as it’s a fast-growing problem, particularly with workers becoming increasingly concerned about their futures in the economic downturn. Costs to employers in London are an estimated £707million every year in lost production and replacing staff who leave because of mental ill-health. Costs to Britain are around £30 billion.

Mental health experts say that at any one time one worker in six will be experiencing depression, anxiety or stress problems. That works out at around 683,333 of the estimated 4.1 million employees in London.

But they calculate that employers in the area should be able to cut the cost by about a third by improving their management of mental health at work.

This crucial event brings together Central Government departments and pioneering frontline practitioners at the cutting edge of designing, delivering and piloting the new system of outcome-based commissioning set to transform the way the public sector deliver services.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from local areas already trialling new financial incentive models including Social Impact Bonds, Payment by Results contracts, the Innovation Fund and Community Budgets.

Attend to learn how driving forward Payment by Results initiatives is vital to deliver innovative solutions to social and environmental issues and significantly reduce costs to the public purse.

 “To change is difficult. Not to change is fatal.” Anon

We have gathered together a group of exciting presenters, experts in a number of areas relevant to the changing environment for social enterprise.

Mark Cook—Partner—Anthony Collins Solicitors Mark will be explaining the implications of the new social value bill and how organisations need to prepare to take advantage of this.

Jean Jarvis MBE—CEO—Shropshire Furniture Project Jean has recently been nominated for Social Entrepreneur of the Year and is going to share with us her experience in running a complicated social enterprise in the current climate.

Geof Cox—Freelance Consultant Geof is a very experienced advocate and developer within the social enterprise movement and he will be supporting organisations to understand how they might change and grow in this new environment.

Award winning No Offence! CIC and Greater Manchester Police are working in partnership to bring you an event which will showcase successful community interventions but we will also be asking the questions, What else needs to be done? How can we inspire our communities to engage with us, take responsibility and work alongside us to provide innovative solutions which will reduce crime, lower reoffending rates and make our communities safer? A tough dilemma!

The 'Inspiring Communities' Conference will be hosted by Kate Macdonald, Chief Executive of Young Peoples' Support Foundation, taking place on the 31st May 2012 at the Greater Manchester Police Training Centre, Sedgley Park Centre in Manchester.

 A European Spring? Shape the European Social Innovation and Social Business agenda

OCS Strategic Partners- Event 3 Europe House, 32 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3EU

Date: 15th March 2012

The launch of the social innovation agenda in 2010 started a new era in the European Union, putting civil society in the driving seat of social and economic development. The Social Business Initiative reinforces Brussels’ commitment to this new agenda.

To tackle today’s problems we have to think differently. Europe’s Social Business Initiative looks to civil society for solutions.

This event will explore new opportunities for civil society organisations and social enterprises in the UK to engage with the European agenda to foster an enabling environment for the sector. This is your opportunity to take part and define the priorities for British civil society.

Responsible Business 2012 is a two-day, not-for-profit event developed through a strategic partnership between UBM and Business in the Community (BITC) consisting of the Responsible Business Exhibition and the BITC Responsible Business Convention.

Social Firms UK will be on stand 42.