Social Firms UK

 Following the successful launch of the Real Ideas Organisation’s (RIO’s) Social Enterprise Qualification (SEQ) at the House of Commons in January, its developers are on the hunt for SEQ training providers who can help them keep up with demand, by training SEQ mentors to deliver the Qualification across the UK.

The first stand-alone international qualification in Social Enterprise, SEQ is a new way to recognise and encourage young people and adults working for positive social change. By focusing on learning through doing, the Qualification develops learners’ understanding and experience of social enterprise, so that with the support of vital SEQ mentors, learners can discover how to balance people, planet and profit for themselves.

Join NOMS (National Offender Management Service) at a series of FREE events on consortia building with the social enterprise sector.

“More than the Sum” is part of NOMS social enterprise programme to help small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in England participate in the delivery of services for ex-offenders by supporting the creation and development of consortiums.

Taking place in London, Bristol, Birmingham and Leeds, these events will:

• explain the programme objectives in more detail, • outline the time frame and actions • describe the technical and other support that will be offered to assist potential bidders. • facilitate initial networking opportunity • provide the opportunity to meet with prime providers and other specialists.

Government removes bill's power to support social enterprises tendering for public sector goods contracts.

Social Firms UK is lobbying Nick Hurd, Cabinet Minister for Civil Society about restrictions the Government have made to the Public Services (Social Enterprise and Social Value) Bill which mean that it will not help social enterprises trying to sell their goods to the public sector.

 Applications for Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) funding have always been fiercely competitive and never more so than at present. With a large number of innovative projects across a range of industries vying for each year’s allocation, it is worth noting that only a small number of them come from the third sector. Therefore, Social Firms UK being awarded one in partnership with Middlesex University is a clear acknowledgement of the relevance and benefit the project will have within the sector.

The funding will be used to recruit a graduate Research Associate for one year to assess the business success factors in establishing and running a Social Firm – an important hire in the current economic climate.

The project aims are threefold: