Social Firms UK

Supporting innovation in the UK retail sector, The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is to invest up to £500k to establish new Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) to stimulate innovation in the UK retail sector.

It is seeking proposals that will help retail managers address the major economic, social and environmental challenges that they face, leading to new opportunities and tangible outcomes for business.

This targeted call, which is being run by the Technology Strategy Board on behalf of the ESRC, offers retailers the chance to work in partnership with the UK’s worldleading social and economic scientists, to access skills, knowledge and technology and address sectoral challenges, helping to improve competitiveness, productivity and performance.

Through this investment the aim is to:

On 1 December 2012 the Criminal Records Bureau and Independent Safeguarding Authority merged to become the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). You may need to ensure that contracts of employment and staff handbooks, should now refer to the DBS, not the CRB or ISA. For more information click here.

 Check out WRAP's Waste Prevention Loan Fund . Textiles, electricals and furniture are the focus of this fund. The aim is to support third sector and other recycling organisation to develop innovative business models that  reduce consumption of products and resources and increase their capacity to re-use, repair and recover them.

 From January 2013 the law will require public sector organisations, including local authorities, to consider the social value that can be gained from their contracts for services. This means that they can take into account the difference that organisations like social enterprises make, because they can deliver economic, environmental and social benefits as well as services. Public procurement need no longer be based on lowest price. What does this mean for you? If you deliver public services you need to be able to demonstrate the social value your organisation creates. You can find out more here