13 – 14 July 2009
Incorporating the launch of the 3XE NW Network Manchester Metropolitan University
Monday 13th July
12.15pm: Social Firms UK AGM
1.30pm: Welcome address from Conference Chair Graham Worrell, Chair of the North West Social Enterprise Network
1.40pm: Address from Tim Sheward, NWDA
1.50pm: Address from James Clappison, Shadow Minister For Work & Pensions
2.10pm Rising to our greatest opportunity, and the most significant challenge, of our time Sally Reynolds, CEO, Social Firms UK
2.30pm: Supporting innovative thinking – an overview of the Right to Bid pilots being funded by DWP Paul Maude, DWP
3.45pm: Workshops
Workshop 1: Introduction to social enterprise Level: Beginners Description: A useful starting point for anyone who’s not really sure what this is all about! From the very basics, delegates will have the chance to discuss and question the social enterprise model as (hopefully) any confusion around the terminology and characteristics/traits of social enterprises is cleared up. The workshop will also inform delegates on how and where Social Firms ‘sit’ within the social enterprise sector, and the role they play in the job creation agenda for people otherwise excluded from the labour market. Chair: Clare Neville (Social Firms UK) Facilitators: Isabelle Farquhar (Business Support Solutions)
Workshop 2: Business acquisition as a route to social enterprise Level: All Description: How about purchasing a business with a view to converting it into a social enterprise or Social Firm? Social Firms Scotland has recently obtained funding from Big Lottery in Scotland to experiment with this approach, using some of the learning from Australia where Social Firms Australia and Social Ventures Australia have been using business acquisition for a few years now. Come and find out more about the Social Firms Scotland quest to facilitate the purchase of businesses over the next few years in order to increase the job numbers for those excluded from the labour market. Chair: Sarah Crawley (ISE) Facilitators: Karen Anderson (Social Firms Scotland)
* Workshop 3: Employment for ex-offenders – where are the opportunities?, David Preston * Workshop 3: Employment for ex-offenders - working in partnership. Jo Munns
Level: All Description: This workshop will approach the topic of employment for ex-offenders from a few different angles worthy of debate and discussion. The Ministry of Justice is undertaking some relevant action research that will be shared during this session. Jo will introduce a programme that Remploy will be running in Yorkshire and Humber working within 9 prisons. Chair: Greg Walker (CREATE) Facilitators: David Preston (Ministry of Justice), Jo Munns (Remploy)
Workshop 4: Creating Social Firms through partnership collaboration Level: Intermediate Description: The Social Change Partnership brings together individuals and professionals from all sectors all working to an agreed shared vision. It provides a supportive framework of people from all sectors within the community to help develop and grow commercially viable Social Firms that can offer volunteering, training and employment opportunities for people who are probably furthest from the labour market. The framework uses enterprise as a solution to reduce social exclusion and economic inactivity through labour market integration of disadvantaged groups. In Wales the Social Change Partnership model has been successfully used to support individual Social Firm creation and as a framework to successfully move a Local Authority project out of Local Authority ownership to independent Social Firm status. The workshop will include examples of successful partnerships and their outcomes. It is ideal for individuals wanting to be part of a larger body, voluntary and public sector organisations who want to work together to create Social Firms. Facilitators: San Leonard (Social Firms Wales), Keith Simmonds (Social Firms Wales), Ali Thomas (Entrepreneur)
Workshop 5: Legal issues with tackling worklessness Level: Intermediate Description: This will be a wide ranging and inter-active review of topical legal issues for those in the sector. Amongst other matters, the workshop will look at: • The responsibilities Social Firms & social enterprises have as employers; including, tackling the important question of what constitutes an employment relationship. • The impact of the disability discrimination legislation – particularly, what is a disability for the purposes of the legislation? What obligations do Social Firms and social enterprises have under the legislation? What is a reasonable adjustment? • The circumstances within which tackling worklessness is regarded as charitable. • Legal implications of apprenticeships for Social Firms and social enterprises. Facilitators: Matthew Gregson and colleagues from Anthony Collins Solicitors
Workshop 6: Social Firms – Tinkering With Frankenstein? Level: Intermediate/academic Description: When you’re engaged in the practical business of Social Firm development and management, it’s easy to forget that Social Firms occupy contested ground: - has the recent strong emphasis on ‘enterprise’ gone too far, to the detriment of social aims and achievements? What’s so good about work anyway? - Have the Values-Based Checklist and other initiatives set up a single Social Firm model, when in fact what’s needed is a diversity of experimental forms? - Is this enterprise-driven Social Firm model actually useful for most learning disabled people in day or residential care now? And does it really challenge socially conservative approaches to mental health? Weren’t social co-operatives a more radical model, rooted in anti-psychiatry? - Isn’t the whole social inclusion agenda in fact complicit with a New Labour dream of easy consensus that’s not going to survive in the fractured, contested and credit crunched real world? This workshop will sketch current academic debates, look at a new Social Firms study – RIPFA’s Key Issues 4: Social Firms – and open up space for discussion of these fundamental questions about what it is, exactly, we’re doing with Social Firms. Chair: Simon Hebditch Facilitators: Geof Cox (Geof Cox Associates) and Doug Foster (Surrey University)
Workshop 7: How the benefit system is changing, and where the Community Allowance might ‘fit’
* Workshop 7: The Community Allowance - Jess Steele * Workshop 7: How the benefit system is changing - Judy Scott
Level: Practitioner, some knowledge Description: Judy Scott will talk about why benefit rules make people afraid to be active and about some benefit changes that will go some way towards the Community Allowance proposal for some people. Naomi will cover the following points within the greater context of the benefits system: • The Community Allowance – what is it? • Where did the idea come from? • What would it achieve and how would it work? • How far have we got in persuading Government this would be a good idea? Delegates will have the chance to discuss and debate these points with both facilitators. Please note Judy is also available for pre-booked 1:1 clinics with delegates (see end of programme for details). Chair: Di Cunliffe (Social Firms UK) Facilitators: Naomi Alexander (CREATE Consortium), Judy Scott (Judy Scott Consulting)
Tuesday 14th July
9.30am: Workshops
Workshop A: Entrepreneurs den Level: Practitioners (limited to 24 delegates) Description: A rare insight into the mind of an entrepreneur – times three (or four, if Ben Way is able to join us from the USA!). Albeit only John is a Social Firm manager, there is much to learn from the serial entrepreneurs who join us from the private sector for this session – Mel, possibly Ben and Richard. Find out what makes entrepreneurs ‘tick’, how they broach problems and challenges, what they’re able to share about starting up and running businesses. An interview-style start to the workshop will then break into small groups to enable delegates to quiz each entrepreneur and pick their brains. Chair: Mark Cook Facilitators: Mel Harris (The Training Tree), Richard O’Connor (We-entrepreneurs), John Charles (Catering2order), Ben Way (Rainmakers – if he’s able to join us)
Workshop B: Differences between target groups and tackling their worklessness Level: Some knowledge Description: Many Social Firms focus on the employment of people from one particular group e.g. those in recovery from mental health problems, people with learning disabilities or ex offenders. That said we have seen a move towards Social Firms that seek to employ people across the range. Is managing and operating a Social Firm that supports homeless people different from one with a focus on physical disability or sensory loss? How does a Social Firm manage the different needs of employees who are ex-offenders with those who have a learning disability? Are all models equally successful in the business world and in supporting people to reach real employment and social integration? In this interactive workshop we will hear from experts, discuss the issues and look at ways to use the knowledge gained. Chair: Kathy Baker (Social Firms UK) Facilitators: Jeff Mitchell (Clean Slate), Mick May (Blue Sky Development), Adrian Harper (Speak Up) and Jenny Turner (OSW)
Workshop C: Taking on a business as a social licence – real case example Level: Intermediate Description: Between 2004 and 2006, Social Firms UK ran a programme of introducing franchising, licensing and replication to the Social Firm sector. This approach was based on the existing success of identified social enterprises that held the potential for roll-out across the country. At this session, the practical experiences of two particular licence opportunities will be discussed in detail. In both cases it was the local authority which spotted the opportunity to use the business licence route as the means to create jobs for their target groups, and in both cases the licensors required that a company be set up independently of the local authority to take on and run the actual business licence. The stories of setting up Pack-IT Hereford and Wholefood Planet Norwich (which was also done in partnership with Norwich City College) will be shared in an honest and open way, from the local authority and the practitioners perspective, so that delegates can learn about the ups and the downs of taking on a licence opportunity which is, in theory, designed to short-cut much of the pain of business start-up from scratch… Chair: Pauline Graham (Social Firms Scotland) Facilitators: Marcia Derbyshire (Norfolk County Council), Kevin Joyce (Wholefood Planet Norwich CIC), Kathryn Roberts (Pack-IT Hereford), Laura Ferguson (Herefordshire County Council)
Workshop D: A tour of Benchmark installations…an emerging Social Firm on show Level: All (limited to 15 delegates) Description: Benchmark is a Manchester-based emerging Social Firm, currently housed within Manchester Mental Health and Social Care NHS Trust. The company specializes in making and installing tailormade furniture into companies, public authorities and for individual customers. The Benchmark staff are on hand to take up to 15 delegates around some of their installations in Manchester and answer questions on operating a business that, hopefully, in due course will create more paid jobs for people with mental health problems. Leader: Ian Stewart (Benchmark)
Workshop E: So you think you’ve got a good business idea... Level: All Description: In order to start a business that’s going to increase employability and create jobs, you need to have a good idea that’s got the potential to generate profit! The first step is feasibility of that business idea. This workshop will discuss where social enterprises and Social Firms start up from, what the drivers are and the key issues for consideration. Delegates will be given a free copy of the DIY Feasibility Toolkit (normally £90 to non-members). Guidance will be provided on how to spot and capture the market opportunities for new businesses. Facilitators: Mark Powell (Broomby CIC) and Tim Reith (Community Innovation UK)
Workshop F: Getting the right kind of finance in place Level: Practitioners/intermediate Description: Whether you need to get start-up funding in place or cover a cashflow shortfall, every stage of business (including social enterprise) has different needs when it comes to finance. Social Enterprises rely on trading to survive, yet do not seem to access the type of mainstream finance that most businesses do. What are the different stages and different needs and what is the situation regarding demand and supply across the UK when it comes to financing social enterprise? Chair: Gerry Higgins, CEiS Facilitators: Rod Schwarz (Catalyst), Eric Munro (RBS NatWest), Nigel Cudlipp (Social Firms UK)
Click here for presentation
Workshop G: Social Firms – the missing local link and what opportunities behind the Future Jobs Fund, amongst others?
- Presentation: Rhyl, a proud history - Alison Thomas (Rhyl City Strategy)
- Presentation: CLG, worklessness and social enterprise - Alun Hughes (CLG)
Level: All Description: There are a range of initiatives – most recently the launch of the Future Jobs Fund - and much discussion about how to identify and deliver public services that people living in workless neighbourhoods need so that they can move into work. But much less focus on where the jobs will be coming from. Among the recommendations made in “Tackling Worklessness”, the independent report published in February 09, Local Authorities are called upon to conduct worklessness assessments of their areas and develop Work and Skills Plans along with developing simplified and coherent funding streams. City Strategy Pathfinders are already making strides in this area. The potential that Social Firms offer is now beginning to be recognised. How can the new focus on local decision and partnership working lead to the step change in the Social Firm sector’s growth that will generate real jobs for the increasing number of people facing major barriers to work. Is the Future Jobs Fund a red herring or does it actually hold long term promise for individuals out of work? This workshop explores the latest developments, how local partnerships are being forged, how the Future Jobs Fund will work, look at the results that are being achieved and what more could be done, and how, to help support the growth of Social Firms in every locality. Chair: Di Cunliffe (Chair) Facilitators: Alison Thomas (Rhyl City Strategy), Alun Hughes (CLG)
11am: Arrival and registration for the launch of the 3XE North West Network. 3XE attendees are welcome to join the main conference plenary from 11.45am until midday when the NW Network launch commences in a different room.
Main conference Plenary
11.45am: Welcome from Conference Chair Peter Holbrook, Social Enterprise Ambassador and CEO of Sunlight Development Trust
12.00pm: Encompassing job creation and tackling worklessness within policy Theresa May, Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (confirmed)
12.10pm: Breaking the cycle – the importance of employment - Greg Walker, CREATE
Keynote speaker 1
12.25pm: Working slightly differently…Blue Sky Mick May, Blue Sky Developments Keynote speaker 2: Social Enterprise today – opportunities and challenges
Step by step to social enterprise: what the 3XE Network can offer your organization
12.40pm: The new economy and what it holds for social enterprise Rod Schwarz, Catalyst
Plenary session for all
1.45pm: Community benefit and social clauses building momentum Gerry Higgins, CEO, CEiS
2pm: Competing on an equal footing, nurturing ability and creating jobs John Charles, Catering2order
2.15pm: Losing everything you have through business; some lessons learned the hard way… Ben Way, serial entrepreneur (through live video link if he’s unable to join us from Miami)
2.35pm: Bucking the trend – creating jobs and tackling worklessness at time of a recession…are we mad to think it possible? Nigel Kershaw, Big Issue Invest
ADDED VALUE FOR DELEGATES:
Book 1:1 time with our experts on the benefits system, marketing and HR!
This can be done, free of charge, and you will need to make direct contact with whoever it is you would like to meet well in advance of the conference to arrange a mutually convenient time during the event:
STATE BENEFITS: Judy Scott independent consultant can offer 1.1 confidential advice for Social Firms and emerging Social Firms on questions that you have on benefit rules and employment law. Bookings should be made with Judy in advance of the conference, by email for half hour slots 5.30pm to 6.30pm Monday 13th and from 9.30am to 1pm Tuesday 14th. judyscottconsult@btinternet.com
MARKETING: Cath Titherington, Voice Social Marketing Catherine@voicemarketing.org.uk
PR: Blue Rocket