Social Enterprise Solutions
Social Enterprise Solutions is the name given to the business start-up and support service run by Blackpool Enterprise Community Interest Company specifically for the development of Social Enterprises. We will support community organisations, projects and individual entrepreneurs in their efforts to become Social Enterprises. The experienced team will provide assistance and support to individuals or community groups located within the ERDF or LEGI eligible* wards in Blackpool Borough. We will assist people outside the eligible wards to establish businesses within the wards where this does not cause displacement.
The SES team will help
- Existing social enterprises to improve trading performance ready for independence of any other funding
- Community groups with ideas for enterprises but not currently trading
- Individual social entrepreneurs with ideas for social enterprises
- Raise awareness of the potential of social enterprises
The SES team will provide
- Mentoring, business start-up advice and direct ‘hands-on’ practical help ranging from market research and business planning to the legislative aspects of setting-up a Social Enterprise company and running a business with suitable systems and procedures
- Help for social enterprises to secure orders
- Help for groups of social enterprises to collaborate in joint ventures to secure local authority contracts, which is a specific target of UK government.
- Small-scale grants according to rules of *eligibility.
- A signposting service to other agencies and projects
Grants may be applied for through this project. The value of the grant may vary and the award will be at the discretion of the Awards Panel. Grants will vary between £250 and £4000. Grants will be awarded on the basis of need and on the basis that no other funding is available. Funding for grants are severely limited and it will be necessary for organisations and individual clients to apply early.
Use our two online *eligibility postcode checkers (accessible via the menu on the left) to see if your business can benefit from our support and advice and possible grant funding. If your post code shows in either of the databases you may be eligible for support.
View a map of the eligible area (PDF file, 9.57 MB)
Impetus
The Government is keen to introduce a wider range of providers to increase capacity and innovation within the health sector. We are currently working closely with the NHS and other partners to deliver IMPETUS, a large and exciting social enterprise to harness the contributions of workless and marginalised people in delivering the health and social care agenda. The aim of IMPETUS is to improve the health and well-being of marginalised residents living mainly in the deprived wards in Blackpool by creating opportunities for training, volunteering, work placements and employment whilst also delivering health and social care services to the community.
We enjoy the support of a powerful partnership including the Strategic Health Authority in promoting and funding the vision of IMPETUS becoming the knowledge and commissioning hub for Blackpool.
Using social enterprises to deliver core services is a route being adopted in different parts of government, with the NHS being the latest to move some of its delivery services out of the core NHS and into autonomous delivery vehicles. Blackpool Enterprise Community Interest Company is committed to support the Primary Care Trust in building a sound business case for creating separate delivery arms that would be outside the core NHS/PCT.
Our Strategic Vision
“To assist in creating and developing dynamic and sustainable social enterprises which strengthen an inclusive and growing economy”
We have accredited expertise in developing social enterprises in North West Lancashire. Our objectives are to:
- Generate conditions which contribute to socially inclusive wealth creation
- Enable individuals and communities to work towards regenerating their local neighbourhoods
- Demonstrate new ways to deliver and reform public services
- Help develop and inclusive society and active citizenship
- Work with partners to promote greater understanding of social enterprises among those responsible for public procurement at local and national level
- Assist social enterprises to develop their businesses and to win public sector business
- Act as champions and social enterprise ambassadors in North West Lancashire
A social enterprise is, first and foremost, a business. That means it is engaged in some form of trading, but it trades primarily to support a social purpose.