Social Firms UK Annual Conference 13 – 14 July, Manchester Metropolitan University
New job opportunities for the people who find it hardest to gain employment because of social problems or disabilities could be created through a new initiative. “The Visit Programme” is a UK-wide scheme which will use tours of successful Social Firms as a way of demonstrating that it is possible to compete commercially while simultaneously supporting people who are at a severe disadvantage in the labour market. The scheme will be launched at the 2009 Social Firms UK Annual Conference at Manchester Metropolitan University 13 – 14 July 2009.
In today’s economic downturn there is a crucial need to provide satisfying and meaningful employment for people for whom finding a job is a challenge, such as the homeless, ex-offenders or those whose opportunities to work are limited by either mental illness or physical disabilities. The new programme is co-ordinated by Social Firms UK, an umbrella organisation founded in 1999 to promote the development of businesses that support the disadvantaged in the workplace, and is backed by strategic partnership funding from the Cabinet Office of the Third Sector. The Visit Programme is intended to attract new entrants to the Social Firm sector and to allow representatives from other social enterprises to learn from one another.
Tim Sheward, Director of Enterprise, North West Development Agency (NWDA) will open the conference and speakers include James Clappison, Shadow Minister for Work and Pensions. Benchmark Furniture and Build (www.benchmarkfdab.co.uk ), a Social Firm based in Wythenshawe will be running a tour of some of its installations as one of the workshops on the morning of the second day of the conference, Tuesday 14 July. The company’s manager, Ian Stewart, will also be presenting a cheque for £5,744.63 which he raised for the charity Social Firms UK through sponsorship of his running in this year’s London Marathon.
The first hosts of the Visit Programme will be Social Firms and work integration social enterprises (WISEs). They include: - FRC Group (from Liverpool whose businesses include furniture removal, waste management & recycling and a retail outlet); - I’SE (based in Birmingham, provides infrastructure support, capacity building and business support to the third sector); - Newco Products (manufactures uPVC windows and doors, kitchens and bespoke joinery, based in London) - Pembrokeshire Frame Ltd (a community re-use organisation from Wales) - Sunlight Development Trust (provides a range of social, medical and community activities in Kent) - The Aldingbourne Trust (from Sussex employ people with learning disabilities in their wood recycling, retail and conference centre businesses) - Travel Matters Enterprises Ltd (a fully bonded travel agency in Redhill, Surrey, which also provides training for people recovering from mental health problems.) Other firms are currently being recruited to join the programme later this year.
Social Firms UK CEO, Sally Reynolds comments: “The pooling of knowledge and experience between social enterprises with a shared ethos has never been more important. It is a tough business running a social enterprise but there is so much to learn from others who have overcome the particular challenges that such enterprises face in areas such as business planning, exploring new markets, people issues, marketing and raising finance. The new Visit Programme will help meet the needs of new entrants to the social firms sector.”
Those wishing to book into the The Visit Programme should go to www.visitsocialenterprise.co.uk . To find out more about the Social Firms UK annual conference on 13-14 July in Manchester, visit: http://www.socialfirmsuk.co.uk/index.php/Section182.html
How to book into the Visit Programme:
1. Log onto www.visitsocialenterprise.co.uk 2. Choose which host organisation you wish to visit bearing in mind their varying interests and expertise. 3. Enter your details online. 4. Visits will be organised in groups of a minimum of six at a cost of £70 per person (for one day including refreshments and lunch). 5. If you have any queries, call 01737 231360 or email info@socialfirmsuk.co.uk
What is a work integration social enterprise (WISE)? A WISE is a type of social enterprise with a specific focus on helping move people with disadvantages into employment, whether through job creation within the organisation or other opportunities outside the enterprise.
Photograph: Pembrokeshire Frame (www.pembrokeshire-frame.co.uk )