There seem to have been a lot of meetings at SSE HQ this week. Every time I’ve looked up from my desk, everyone has gone from one meeting into another. I’ve not been invited to any of them, but I’m sure they are all very exciting and important, like meetings always are. Anyway, to make up for the disappointment of me being excluded from the fun I’ve invented my own meeting (including horrendous office speak), to which you’ve been invited.
After this you might as well knock off for the week, enjoy your weekend!
Can I get you a drink at all? (Please say water, so I don’t have to make tea or coffee). Just a glass of water? Perfect. Come on through to the meeting room and we can deep dive into some of the key go to points from around the social enterprise sector this week…
First on the agenda, here’s this guide on how to use social investment tax relief. A quick win? Certainly an idea that’s got legs.
What’s that noise? Oh, it’s your phone ringing. Let’s sit here while it rings and pretend that neither of us have noticed even though it’s really quite loud. Right, here’s something to fly up the flagpole: The SE100 Awards have opened for applications. There’s over £30,000 in prizes available, representing a real return on investment should you win.
On the same page as return on investment, here’s how Citizens Advice shows it is good value for money. Some good blue-sky thinking there.
What’s that? Why do I talk like this? I like to think it makes me sound like some sort of business shamen and hides the fact that I have no idea what I’m talking about. Anyway, park that thought because Chris Hardy from Inspire2Enterprise has been giving Lee Manion of Pioneers Post some tips on getting investment to scale. Sounds like you need to get your ducks in a row before you hit the ground running.
Here, have a slightly stale biscuit.
You’re phones ringing again. Yes, maybe you should turn it off. Oh wow, you have your keypad tones on, I thought it was only my mother who still did that. Anyway, let’s talk big picture because NCVO have just released a report examining the financial sustainability of the voluntary sector.
An engagement opportunity for you: Breathe Arts Health Research, founded by SSE Fellow Yvonne Faquharson, are on the hunt for an Office Manager & PA in London. A chance to work for an organisation which has just been accepted onto Big Issue Invest’s CSV programme. They join sellers of some of London’s finest coffee the Old Spike Roastery, founded by Fellow Cemal Ezel.
Forbes are incentivising social entrepreneurs under 30 with a prize of $1m in their ‘Change the World Competition‘, the largest-ever competition for young social entrepreneurs. Let’s hope that entries are judged on a level playing field.
A news story that I’d like to cascade to you: The Guardian have taken a helicopter view at The Bike Project, set up by SSE Fellow Jem Stein.
Finally, social enterprise The BeingWell are offering 20% off mindfulness courses in Canary Wharf. Get in touch with them if you’d like to get the ball rolling on this.
Right, well thanks for coming in. If there’s any follow up just ping me an email and I’ll action it straight away.
What’s on at SSE?
- Writing Successful Bids, SSE London, 7th August (3 places left)
- An Introduction to Legal Structures, SSE London, 10th September
- Working with Corporates, SSE London, 11th September (7 places left)
- Measuring Social Impact, SSE London, 17th-18th September (5 places left)
- YSC Sustainable Leadership, SSE Cornwall, starts 18th September
