social enterprise

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• Paula Howley, the key developer behind the Social Enterprise Mark, is leaving the Social Enterprise Mark Company to take up the position of enterprise development manager at Tomorrow’s People. In her new role she will establish a portfolio of social enterprises that help people on their journey back to work. Ms Howley project managed the Mark from its inception in 2005. There are currently more than 200 Mark holders nationwide.
• Lord Heseltine will chair the independent approval panel for the £1bn Regional Growth Fund (RGF). Ministers want new Local Economic Partnerships (LEPs) to have bids ready for the RGF by the end of December, and have set a 6 September deadline for companies and councils to draw up their draft proposals. The RGF panel will recommend to ministers which projects should be taken forward. Sir Ian Wrigglesworth will be deputy chair of the RGF.
• Northwest Development Agency has announced a series of reappointments to its board. Anthony McDermott, Susan Williams, John Brooks, Peter Allen, Joe Dwek and John Merry will all serve from 14 December until the agency closes. Final closure of regional development agencies is expected by 31 March 2012 following legislation.
• Ledbury and Area Development Trust has appointed Una Morgan and Jan Long to its management committee following the departure of its chief executive Roger Payne. Ms Morgan is a former president of Ledbury Rotary Club, while Ms Long previously held a regional manager position with the British Council. Mr Payne has been the trust’s chief executive since it formed in June 2005 and will leave the company at the end of July.
• Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors West Midlands has welcomed Martin Perks as its new regional board chair. The chartered quantity surveyor and divisional director of cost consultancy business Franklin and Andrews will be responsible for nationwide public sector, defence, highways and sustainability projects. He will take up the two-year position next month.

Organisations in Yorkshire with bright ideas to help get homeless people into accommodation, training and jobs, have just two more weeks to qualify for the chance to win a share of a £1.6 million investment fund.

The Spark 2010 Challenge was launched at the beginning of July, and organisers have issued a final call for organisations to submit business ideas to a panel of experts before 13 August, the competition deadline.

The initiative aims to prevent and tackle homelessness by encouraging the launch of new social enterprises - businesses set up to tackle social or environmental issues, which reinvest most of their profits for the benefit of their community and beneficiaries.

It was founded by John Montague, CEO of The TREES Group, and Nigel Kershaw, Chair of Big Issue Invest, with the continued support of the Department for Communities and Local Government.

John Montague said: “We launched Spark at the beginning of July and we’ve been impressed with the high level of interest to date. 

“But the final countdown is now on, and organisations have just two more weeks to put their ideas forward.  We’d urge social businesses and charities to take advantage of this exciting opportunity which promises to make a real difference to people’s lives.

“Spark is much more than a competition or a grant application.  It is across-sector collaboration that brings together organisations and social enterprises from the public, private and third sector to work together to offer more people a permanent route of the streets.

“We want to sow the seed of enterprise into organisations that are already doing excellent work with homeless people, but know they could achieve more given the right support,” he added.

Finalists benefit from first-class mentoring from Spark partners PricewaterhouseCoopers, Places for People, BT, and Willmott Dixon to help establish their social enterprise and make it a success.

Entrants for Spark 2010 need to submit their business case via www.sparkchallenge.org.uk by 5pm on 13 August. 

Leeds based Lippy People CIC has been awarded the Social Enterprise Mark, which identifies them as trading for social and environmental purposes.

The Social Enterprise Mark is the brand for social enterprises and was launched 1st February, 2010. The Mark identifies businesses which meet defined criteria for social enterprise, and consumers will recognise that businesses displaying the Mark are trading to benefit people and planet.

Lippy People joins other ethical businesses that have been recognised by being awarded the Mark such as the Eden Project, the Create Foundation and Tiger 11. The Social Enterprise Mark builds off the pilot run by RISE, the voice for South West social enterprise.

Government data estimates that there are 62,000 social enterprises across the UK, contributing £24 billion to the economy and employing around 800,000 people.

Recent research found that social enterprises are twice as confident of growth compared to typical small to medium enterprises (SMEs), with 48% of social enterprises saying they are positive about the future as opposed to just 24% of SMEs (The Social Enterprise Coalition’s State of Social Enterprise Survey 2009).

Social enterprises are working to make a difference across the UK and beyond, but not enough people know what they are or how they work. The Social Enterprise Mark aims to raise awareness of what social enterprises do in order to get more people to buy from, engage with, start up and work for social enterprises.

Lippy People CIC is a social business designed to have a positive social impact. It was established to create opportunities for the voice, influence and involvement within civil society. The company uses filmmaking and social media distribution as a means to fulfil these social goals and primarily collaborates with people who, for whatever reason, feel marginalised, disenfranchised or ignored within the decision making processes that effect them.

Dave Tomalin, Chair of Lippy People said, “We’re really proud to have been awarded the Social Enterprise Mark. Lippy People is absolutely committed to supporting sustainable businesses and consequently helping local communities to thrive and prosper”.

Lucy Findlay champion from the Social Enterprise Mark Company (manager of the Mark) advised:

“We are delighted to award the prestigious Social Enterprise Mark to Lippy People. Social enterprises come in all shapes and forms so it's great to see a vital, local social media company understanding the importance of being part of the wider social enterprise brand”

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For more information please contact Jo Wilkinson at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Notes to Editor – Lippy People

Lippy People projects are creative collaborations using film, new media and the belief that storytelling and story sharing can directly affect social change. Our values encompass shared experience, diversity, self-expression and inclusion.

Lippy Peoples Creative Offer

Video Clusters – These are clusters of short films exploring social issues from the perspectives of the people whose lives are directly affected by them. ‘Video Clusters’ enable the storyteller to tell their story in the way they wish and supports them to be involved in civil society.

Enquiry Films – These films are large-scale creative enquiries that bring together a variety of stakeholders around a key ‘social’ question. Enquiry Films are all about sharing collective knowledge and ideas, producing contemporary social archives and supporting people to contribute to decision-making and policy.

Communication Media – Whether it be through films, photographs, websites or a combination of all three, it’s important for social businesses and social projects to share their offer, ideas and social impact.

Training & Development – Lippy People provides bespoke projects increasing skills and learning around the use of filmmaking and social media as a tool for social change.

Notes to Editor – Social Enterprise Mark Company

1. The Social Enterprise Mark is the brand for social enterprises. The Mark will identify businesses which meet defined criteria for social enterprise, and consumers will recognise that businesses displaying the Mark are trading to benefit people and planet. Visit www.socialenterprisemark.org.uk to find out more

2. The Social Enterprise Mark is supported by the Office of the Third Sector, the National Lottery through the BIG Lottery Fund and Capacity Builders.

3. The most widely adopted definition of social enterprise, used by organisations such as the Social Enterprise Coalition and RISE, is from the Government's Department for Trade and Industry: "Social enterprises are businesses with primarily social objectives whose surpluses are principally reinvested for that purpose in the business or in the community, rather than being driven by the need to maximise profit for shareholders and owners." Social Enterprise: a strategy for success, 2001

4. The Social Enterprise Mark Company has been set up as a Community Interest Company (CIC) Limited by shares. It is a joint venture between the Social Enterprise Coalition and RISE.

5. The Social Enterprise Coalition is the UK’s national body for social enterprise.  As the voice for the sector, the Coalition provides a platform for showcasing the benefits of social enterprise while supporting and representing the work of its varied members, influencing national policy and promoting best practice. www.socialenterprise.org.uk

6. RISE is the voice for South West social enterprise and aims to establish a favourable environment for social enterprises to develop and flourish. RISE is supported by the South West RDA. www.rise-sw.co.uk