Archived business news
Business news that
previously made the headlines can be
found on this page. Up-to-date business news for the third
sector
can be accessed by clicking 'Current news' below.
Great Barr social enterprise wins Dragon-style investment cash
A Birmingham ‘Dragons Den’ style competition has
invested in a new social enterprise working with parents to improve
child safety.
The winning idea, ‘R They Safe’, was one of nine not-for-personal-profit business ventures pitched to a team of three potential investors in a contest based on the popular BBC TV series. For the full story, click on the following link:
http://www.birminghampost.net/
The winning idea, ‘R They Safe’, was one of nine not-for-personal-profit business ventures pitched to a team of three potential investors in a contest based on the popular BBC TV series. For the full story, click on the following link:
http://www.birminghampost.net/
Byrne and Mandelson announce social enterprise summit
Cabinet Office minister Liam Byrne today (Wednesday, 11th February
2009) announced a social enterprise summit to be held with business
secretary Peter Mandelson to ensure the movement becomes a
‘bigger part of the British economy'. For the full story,
click on the following link:
http://www.socialenterprisemag.co.uk/sem/news/detail/index.asp?id=824
http://www.socialenterprisemag.co.uk/sem/news/detail/index.asp?id=824
David Cameron opens Venue09 with keynote speech
Rt
Hon David Cameron MP, leader of the Conservative Party,
opened Voice09 with a keynote speech on Tuesday, 10th February 2009. To
read his speech in full, please click on the link below:
http://www.conservatives.com/News/Speeches/2008/12/David_Cameron_Social_enterprise_can_help_training_schemes_change.aspx
http://www.conservatives.com/News/Speeches/2008/12/David_Cameron_Social_enterprise_can_help_training_schemes_change.aspx
New plan to boost social enterprises in Wales
A
new plan to strengthen the social enterprise sector in Wales was
launched on Monday, 9th February 2009 by Deputy Minister for
Regeneration, Leighton Andrews.
"This
plan will build on our history to strengthen further our social
enterprise culture to meet the challenges of the 21st
century. Strong social enterprises are a key element in
regenerating our communities and will create local jobs that not only
benefit the employees but also the community."
A new
organisation to champion social enterprise and deliver key parts of the
plan will be established. Social Enterprise Coalition Cymru will run a
major awareness raising campaign, recruit pathfinder enterprises to
help other organisations develop, encourage young social entrepreneurs
and host key conferences on social enterprise.
The
Coalition will work closely with the Wales Co-op Centre who have
already been successful in securing European convergence funding and
Welsh Assembly Government match funding worth a total on £7.1
million for the Social Enterprise Support Project.
A new
group will also be created to advise Ministers on social
enterprise. The Ministerial Advisory Group will create a
direct link between Ministers and social enterprise experts.
Appointments to the group will be made later in the year.
The plan
also includes the development of the Community Asset Transfer Fund an
£8 million pot to help third sector organisations and social
enterprises renovate public buildings to offer services to the
community.
Leighton
Andrews continued: "Social Enterprise Coalition Cymru will be key to
delivering the plan, raising the profile of social enterprises,
encouraging more people to start them and celebrating the success of
the sector in Wales. I look forward to seeing a close relationship
developing between the Coalition and the Wales Co-Op Centre.
"The new
advisory group will help keep my finger on the pulse of the sector and
I am looking forward to working with them.
"The
potential benefits of the Community Asset Transfer Fund through
community ownership of buildings are many - social businesses may be
started; community centred activity may develop; community groups who
own assets may generate revenue, all leading to a stronger and more
self confident community."
£42.5m recession package for third sector announced
On Monday, 9th February
2009, the government pledged £42.5m to help the third sector
during the recession.
The action plan for the third sector, published by cabinet
office minister Liam Byrne, also includes a review of incentives for
investment in social enterprise and £500,000 for the School
for Social Entrepreneurs so it can double the number of people it
trains. For
the full story, click on the following link:
http://www.socialenterprisemag.co.uk/sem/news/detail/index.asp?id=822
President Barroso discusses how
to boost "social innovation"
President
Barroso met social innovation experts and stakeholders in Brussels,
following a workshop organised by the Bureau of European Policy
Advisers (BEPA) on social innovation. The objective of the meeting was
to explore ways to boost the social innovation dimension of the Renewed
Social Agenda with which the Barroso Commission has put Social Europe
back at the heart of its policies. Commissioners Špidla and
Hübner also participated in the workshop. For the full story,
click on the following link:
Mandelson's credit boost for business set to damage social enterprises
The business secretary Lord Mandelson's much vaunted £20bn business support package meant to ease the recession could end up hitting cashflow to social enterprises in the UK's most deprived areas, writes Chrisanthi Giotis of Social Enterprise magazine. To read Chrisanthi Giotis' article in full, please click on the link below:http://www.socialenterprisemag.co.uk/sem/news/detail/index.asp?id=805
Breaking down the barriers to social enterprise
Why NESTA boss, Jonathan Kestenbaum, believes that social enterprise is the business model that will characterise the 21st century. Jonathan Kestenbaum considers the opportunities and challenges for social enterprise against the current business, financial and political status quo in this timely and insightful article for Times Online. To read the full article, please click on the link below:Business grants of up to £15,000 made available by Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council
As
part of Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council's economic strategy,
business grants of up to £15,000 are available on a
discretionary
and availability basis. The grants fall into the following five
categories: Commercial Improvement Area Grant (up to £15,000); Community
and Prominent Buildings Grant (up to
£15,000); Regeneration
Grant (up to £10,000); Business Start-up Grant (between
£500 and £2,000) and E-commerce Grant (up to
£2,000)
. For full details, please click on the following link:
Prime Cymru aims to help people over 50 start their own business
Prime Cymru is an Initiative for Mature Enterprise established by HRH the Prince of Wales. The Charity is dedicated to helping people over 50 in Wales to start their own business, whatever business model they chose to adopt, but they particularly recognise and support the development of social enterprise as an innovative and sustainable way to establish and conduct business. For full details of Prime Cymru's work, please click on the following link:http://www.prime-cymru.co.uk/html/templateA.asp?P=1
Leighton Andrews announces £8 million to help communities restore public buildings
An £8 million fund to help third sector organisations and social enterprises renovate public buildings so that they can be used to offer services to the community has been announced by Deputy Minister for Regeneration, Leighton Andrews. For the full story, please click on the following link:http://new.wales.gov.uk/news/topic/housing/2008/2795802/?lang=en
Welsh social entreprises given £7.16 million boost
Leighton Andrews, the Deputy Minister for Regeneration, has announced a five-year project that will benefit both existing and new social enterprises in West Wales and the Valleys. The £7.16 million Social Enterprise Support Project will support at least 150 existing organisations and aims to create more than 50 new social enterprises as part of its remit to develop the sustainability and growth of such organisations in Wales. For the full story, please click on the following link:http://www.walescoop.com/latest-news-from-the-sector/i/639/
