Deputy PM of Thailand visits SSE

SSE were delighted to have a delegation of seven Ministers from Thailand come to visit us. We took them to meet four social entrepreneurs who are all Fellows of SSE. The delegation were keen to learn about the UK sector and find out more about the types of social enterprises that are appearing here to take some knowledge back to Thailand.

To demonstrate the scope of organisations we support at SSE we took them to four completely different enterprises, who all have very different financial models and structures. On the day we visited:

• Old Spike Roastery in Peckham, a not-for profit coffee shop providing employment opportunities for homeless people.
• The Hill Station community cafe, shop and exhibition space.
• The Bike Project who take second-hand bikes, fix them up, and donate them to refugees.
• Circle Sports in Dalston who provide employability skills for young people not in employment, education or training.

It was great to hear that the government in Thailand are trying to build their social enterprise sector by providing more start up support. Watch this space, SSE Thailand could be on the horizon!

Watch: 3 minute video on how the community used ‘sweat equity’ to build the Hill Station Community Cafe in South East London.