A brief introduction to this week’s Have I Got Social Enterprise News For You – my wife is ill so I’m juggling working from home and looking after an 8 week old baby. Both have been asleep most of the morning but I’m not taking any chances. I know exactly how these things work; I’ll get halfway through constructing one of the most hilarious newsletter introductions ever written when the baby will wake up and I’ll have to change a nappy and lose my train of thought.
So, let’s crack on with the news. I had loads to include this week – if you sent something over and it’s not here it will be in the next edition.
Roll up, roll up
We’ve still got a few places available on next Thursday and Friday’s Measuring Social Impact course in London. It’s delivered by our friends at nef consulting and will give you an intensive introduction to impact measurement, two free lunches and an enormous sense of wellbeing from helping me hit my sales target for the year.
Drinking games
I have had a pint in four, possibly five (I had a particularly hazy night out in Liverpool), of the Guardian’s top 50 pubs in the UK. Room for improvement. Next on the list will have to be The Bevy in Brighton. The Bevy is the UK’s first community owned estate pub and bar manager Charles Pyment is a current student at SSE. Now to work out how I can get SSE to expense the visit…
See the full list of pubs here
Go forth and amplify
Cultural and creative organisations with a digital idea that addresses a social challenge and produces a social benefit can apply to Amplified, a pilot programme from Nesta. Successful applicants will receive £10,000 of grant funding, support and a mentor to help get the idea off the ground.
Food glorious food
You need to be very quick with this one (the deadline is today) but if you have an idea that could transform the food and agriculture sector you can apply for an Entrepreneurship Prize, presented by EIT Food Business Creation Innovation Grant Scheme, and receive €10,000 of equity-free funding.
Keep it legal
Every now and then I run a session on starting a social enterprise at the City Business Library on starting a social enterprise and every single time I get asked lots of questions about legal structures. I don’t know much about legal structures. I should probably head to Eden Project Communities’ Community and Structure networking event in Southampton on 17th November. Nathan Brown of Coop Culture will through a brief presentation of the different ways a community group can be legally formalised and then there will be an opportunity to network with other community organisations.
CV at the ready
Three excellent job opportunities this week:
First up, SSE Fellow Eve Wagg is looking for a Managing Director (£40k-£48k) at her social enterprise Well Grounded, a specialist coffee training academy. If you excel in a small business, are able to juggle multiple tasks and deadlines, can self-prioritise and thrive on getting things done then make sure to apply here. The closing date is 9am on 29th November and the role is based in London. Eve is ace so it’s a super job for the right person.
Next, SSE Fellow and SSE Trustee Joel Davis is recruiting a Head of Programmes (£30k-34k) for Tutors United, who specialise in providing affordable private tutoring to the children and families who need it most. Joel has asked me to point out the role is based in Shoreditch, which he says is much trendier than SSE’s offices in London Bridge. Apply for the job here and tell him he’s wrong at your interview. Closing date is 5th December.
Current SSE student Carl Konadu is looking for a Programme Coordinator and Facilitator for his organisation 2-3 Degrees, a personal development company that inspires and motivates young people with practical skills they need for life. The job is based in Aldgate East / Bermondsey and pays £19500. It’s a first hire for the organisation. Apply here by 29th November.
Christmas shopping one
SSE student Charlie Wright has launched a crowdfunding campaign for his organisation Hopeful Traders, which collaborates with people who have experienced (or do still experience) homelessness and mental health issues to produce a range of clothing and merchandise.
You can back the campaign here and take advantage of some early bird discounts.
Christmas shopping two
Turkish social enterprise Toyi have come up with a ‘limitless creative play kit without instructions that enables children to transform everything around them into unique toy’. It looks cool – for every set sold they will be donating a set to a disadvantaged child.
Out of control
The Social Change Agency have recently launched Losing Control, a movement for people who want to let go of power to unleash social change. At the heart of it is an event in Birminghan on 5th + 6th February which will bring together change makers from all kinds of backgrounds, sectors and positions to discuss and create bottom-up and collaborative approaches to social change. It looks really good.
And finally…
Congratulations to all the SSE Scotland Fellows who were nominated for the Social Enterprise Scotland Awards this week, and particularly to Callum McKinnon who was highly commended in the Social Enterprise Champion – Under 26 category.
You can see all the winners here
What’s on at SSE?
- Measuring Social Impact, London, Nov 15th +16th
- Developing a Fundraising Strategy, London, 20th Nov
- Fundraising from Trusts and Foundations, London, 21st Nov
- Handling Difficult Conversations, London, 28th Nov
