Co-op support programme

Co-operatives UK has established a great new programme for co-operatives and community businesses called The Hive.   It provides online resources and tool kits as well as free or heavily subsidised advice and training opportunities available for groups at different stages of setting up or developing their co-operative or social business: from peer mentoring, group advice and one-to-one advice to co-operative skills training sessions.  Some of the sessions available for start-up groups includes:

• The co-operative option (free)
• Start-ups (free)

I am an approved provider for The Hive and will be working with Hive clients through my co-operatives Cooperantics and Co-op Culture.

If you want to find out more about the Group Advice and one-to-one support available, here's some videos I did earlier.  And if your co-op or social business wants to apply please visit this link.  If we've worked together before and you would like me to be the provider, please be sure to mention that in the application!

Social Enterprise networking breakfast 16 March Southampton

As part of the Solent Social Enterprise Zone I am leading a networking session on 16th March.
Why come?

• Get that elusive contact that will help your social enterprise increase sales
• Promote your social enterprise to a wider audience through other social enterprises - develop your secret sales force
• It’s a great opportunity to brush up on your pitching skills in a safe environment
• Meet members of other local social enterprises – the first step to creating a mutually supportive network

Wednesday, 16 March 2016 from 8 am  to 10 am  at Dukes Keep - Marsh Lane Southampton, Southampton SO14 3EX GB

About the session

We are going to be using the "Principle 6" approach to network marketing, developed by Sion Whellens of Calverts/Principle Six.  I have used it on several occasions and facilitated sessions using it to great effect. It provides a simple but effective framework for social enterprises and co-ops to pitch their needs to each other and access each other's networks.  It is quick, high energy, and above all it is great fun!

Timings will change depending on numbers but it will look something like this

8.00 Arrivals, grab your breakfast

8.15 Introduction to Principle 6 networking and how it works

8.30 Pitching session
Everyone has 1 minute to pitch their social enterprise and the contacts they need to make sales or improve the way their business operates

8.50 - 10 min extended pitch: someone gets the chance to give an extended pitch - John from Social Enterprise Link is arranging someone to speak

9.00 Referral session
This is the bit where we feed back on useful contacts from our own networks

We will finish sometime between 9.30 and 10.00 depending on numbers but you can carry on networking once the session is over.

Book your place here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/solent-social-enterprise-business-breakfast-tickets-22213681720

Solent Social Enterprise Week

How did this come up so quickly?!!
There is a whole programme of events and activities taking place to celebrate and promote social enterprises in my area during February

On Tues 23rd Feb I will be racing back from a piece of community enterprise work in Tottenham to host a talk and discussion about the radical history of co-ops and what place they might have in 21st century Southampton organised by the wonderful Dangerous Ideas mob.   It's not the first event but I have starring role so I'm blowing my own trumpet!

On Friday 19th Feb we will be having a launch for the zone, at which the Action Group (of which I am one) get to hang out with the stakeholder group and then local social enterprises will be showcasing what they get up to.

 On Sat 20th Feb there is a "Buy Local, Buy Social" day. I buy from social enterprises whenever I can and I may be doing some media work on the day down at Rice Up Wholefoods if all goes to plan.

There is a full listing of activities available here.

 If you do Facebook, head over to this page.