Partner Article

Wanted: social entrepreneurs and business leaders

Business Link is calling on social enterprises and businesses to join its Social Enterprise Forum and its Voluntary and Community Sector Forum. The regional business support service helped set up 51 social enterprises and provided advice and guidance to almost 300 last year.

The forums are designed to advise Business Link on the social enterprise support it provides, which has received investment from the Office of the Third Sector (OTS).

The OTS funding will be made available to social enterprises through the North East England Investment Centre (NEEIC). The funding will also be used to subsidise workshops and provide Business Link staff with specialist training to work with the third sector.

David Carr, business development manager at Business Enterprise North East, who deliver the Business Link service, said: “Business Link already has a lot to offer social enterprises in terms of practical support on issues including legal structures and social marketing.

“However, we are always looking to improve upon the services that we provide to all businesses across the region and we want social enterprises to come together, talk to us about the third sector’s requirements and discuss how we can better meet them.”

It is hoped that the Forum will be up and running by the autumn, when Business Link is also set to hold workshops across the region to support the development of social enterprises.

David added: “We are looking for members who understand social enterprise issues at national, regional or local level, are visionary and innovative and are able to represent the Forum at appropriate events. “Obviously we will be looking for people who act in the public interest and are not under any obligation to individuals or organisations that might seek to influence them. Other key attributes include accountability, openness, honesty and the ability to lead.”

For further information contact Andrew Robson at andrew.robson@be-ne.co.uk.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .