DR!VE is an ambitious plan to support more than 200 new-start and existing businesses to grow in Lancashire over the next two years.

The Social Enterprise Lancashire Network, Selnet, is heading the partnership of qualified business advisors that can turn good business plans into business for good.

We’re here to help get business moving in Lancashire.

How can we help?

A friendly and approachable advisor will spend up to two days supporting you and your team to increase the chances of your business thriving and surviving.

That could include explaining the basics of business if you’ve decided to work for yourself for the first time, perhaps linking you with potential partners or helping with market research so that an existing business can grow or advise on moving premises and taking on more staff.  Alternatively, you may need to consider changes to your products and services in the post-Covid world.

In addition, Selnet will be arranging a series of masterclasses with expert speakers to guide participants through common business hurdles such as finance, administration and marketing/social media.

The support is bespoke to your organisation and at no cost to you as it is funded by the European Regional Development Fund with support from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

For more information, call Nina Cowell at Selnet on 01772 200690 or email nina@selnet-uk.com

 

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Lancashire’s social enterprise teams “perform miracles:
day after day after day”

Social Enterprises across Lancashire celebrated and promoted for their phenomenal impacts and achievements throughout Covid at the Enterprise in Society Awards 2021

On 2^nd December 2021, at the Crow Wood Hotel, Burnley, Selnet’s 10^th awards event for social enterprises highlighted how social businesses adapted services to Covid challenges, in order to continue supporting vulnerable and disadvantaged people across Lancashire.

Selnet is the lead organisation representing social enterprises across Lancashire, increasing our sector’s competitiveness, sustainability and impact. We support and enable the vital work of frontline social enterprises, from training, to contract delivery and enabling partnerships.

Social enterprises across Lancashire have gone above and beyond expectations in response to Covid-19, helping people in crisis and keeping lives together. Our phenomenal sector deserves the recognition, celebration and wider promotion, joining together and sharing impactful stories in person at the Enterprise in Society Awards 2021.

The story from Twitter

And the winners are!

Start-Up Social Enterprise of the Year
Sponsored by The Sewing Rooms

Start Up Social Enterprise of the Year 2021, sponsored by The Sewing Rooms, awarded by co-Directors Paula Gamester and Maureen Fazal to Growing Resilience CIC:

“We are just under a year old, set up to support people around mental health. Teaching people how to cook with foodbank items, horticulture, introducing different concepts of mental health, meditation, conflict resolution, chaotic lifestyles, becoming physically and mentally better, working with UCLan to support LGBTQ+ communities and homeless people.” Glen Duckett, Growing Resilience CIC.

 

Highly commended award presented to We Be Kids CIC (collected by Suzanne Murray, Groundwork)

Shortlisted were Beanstalk Business Support CIC, Growing Resilience, Mindsight and We Be Kids CIC.

 

Small Social Enterprise of the Year
Presented by awards judge Adam Holden

The category ‘Small Social Enterprise of the Year’ category was highlighted as the category celebrating ‘the lifeblood of our sector’, presented by judge Adam Holden and awarded to Divine Days Creative Arts:

“We tackle inequalities with health, working with people with complex needs or disabilities, helping them access social entrepreneurship we use the arts predominantly. Everyone in our category is phenomenal, so we are just so thrilled, everyone is just absolutely wonderful, and we are absolutely honoured!” Katie Whitehead, MD.

 

Highly commended award presented to Let’s Grow Preston.

Shortlisted were Barks and Recreation, Brew Me Sunshine, Divine Days Creative Arts, Let’s Grow Preston and SHAPE Lancashire.

 

Large Social Enterprise of the Year
Sponsored by Unity Trust Bank

Large Social Enterprise of the Year category was sponsored by Unity Trust Bank, and announced and presented by Margaret Porter to Furniture Matters:

“I didn’t expect this at all, we’re 20 years old, we work in Morecambe and the surrounding area of Morecambe, through Covid we really came into our own, what we’re about is helping people in need, in crisis, – where others closed around us, we kept on going and honestly, we had a really great 18 months!” – Steph Buchanan, Manager at Furniture Matters.

 

Shortlisted were Child Action Northwest, Furniture Matters (Calico Enterprise Ltd), Intact, Lancashire Women, Recycling Lives Social Enterprises and Travel Assist.

 

Social Enterprise Covid Hero
Sponsored by Recycling Lives Commercial

The Covid Hero category recognises the great efforts that organisations have gone to over the last 18 months; the new category Covid Hero, presented by David Allen on behalf of the sponsor ‘Recycling Lives Commercial’ to @TheGrange Community Centre:

“The Grange is right sat the centre of Grange Park in Blackpool, we support the residents of Grange Park, during Covid while services closed, we stayed open and we supported the people that were the most vulnerable – most of all what came to light out of it, is there are some very vulnerable people who were not known to use before Covid, but now they are known and have support and care put into place so a lot of good has come out of the work that was done during lockdowns – we did meals on wheels, Christmas dinners, housed people off the streets – and that support just continues and continues. We’re very proud of what we do!” Ellen Ryan @TheGrange. 

Alistair Clarke reflected the crowd’s response: “Amazing, amazing organisation!”

 

Shortlisted were CANWe Solutions CIC, Intact, New Era Enterprises, The Sewing Rooms and @TheGrange Community Centre.

 

Work and Training Social Enterprise of the Year
Sponsored by Livv Housing

The Work and Training Social Enterprise of the Year category was presented by judge Paula Brown on behalf of sponsor by Livv Housing to Brew Me Sunshine.

Alistair Clarke said “The winners can’t be here tonight – why? Because they’re on their Christmas party!”

Video “Thank you very much for this award, it means so much here to us at Brew Me Sunshine, it’s been really rewarding to see our volunteers overcome their challenges and develop their confidence and skills throughout our training schemes – it’s been even greater to see one of those volunteers join our team as a member of staff, who will also get a  well-deserved nomination in one of the other categories this evening. We are incredibly proud of our team and we are not just a café that serves a cup of coffee and delicious cakes. We continue to be a safe, accessible community space for some of the most isolated members of our community. Thank you again and you are all very welcome to see us here at Brew Me Sunshine to celebrate the hard work of all of those this evening”
Claire Lloyd – Cafe Manager

 

Shortlisted were AFC Fylde Community Foundation, Brew Me Sunshine, Calico Enterprise Ltd, Child Action Northwest, Recycling Lives (Social Enterprises) Ltd and Social Enterprise Solutions.

 

Social Enterprise Employee of the Year
Awarded by Selnet Membership Lead, Yvette Holden

Employee of the Year, presented by Selnet Membership Lead, Yvette Holden, awarded to Natalie Hall of CANWe Solutions.

Accepting the award on her behalf was Michelle Dixon, Head of Service at Child Action Northwest: “I have the pleasure of working with Natalie and her team. She’s heavily pregnant and was advised to take some time off to rest! Working with Natalie she’s amazing, she gives her all to everything – on behalf of Natalie thank you very much!”

 

Shortlisted were Carl Simms of Child Action Northwest, Craig Kirby of The Sewing Rooms, Jez Palmer of CANWe Solutions CIC, Julie Smith of SHAPE Lancashire, Natalie Hall of CANWe Solutions CIC and Vicky Hutchinson of Lancashire Women.

 

Striving for Equality Award 
Sponsored by Calico Enterprises

The Striving for Equality award was sponsored by Calico Enterprises and presented by Sam Howarth to Equalities and Justice Northwest.

Presented to Zed Ali, Chief Officer: “We help organisations in the public, private and voluntary sector to implement best practice policies that promote equality. We provide advice and advocacy on a whole range of practical issues and we are absolutely blown away to win this award, all I can say is thank you!”

 

Shortlisted were Child Action Northwest, Equalities & Justice Northwest and URPotential.

 

Environmental Champion of the Year
Presented by Chair of Selnet, Graham Jones

The Environmental Champion award was awarded to Recycling Lives Social Enterprise, and presented by the Chair of Selnet, Graham Jones:

When asked how he would sum up what Recycling Lives’ actions are, he said:

“I think that in a nutshell, I have a team that perform miracles, day after day after day”. Alasdair Jackson, Operations Director at Recycling Lives.

 

Shortlisted were Furniture Matters (part of Calico Enterprise), Let’s Grow Preston and Recycling Lives (Social Enterprises) Ltd.

 

Volunteer of the Year
Presented by Selnet’s Deputy CEO, Donna Marshall

The Volunteer of the Year award was presented by Selnet’s Deputy CEO, Donna Marshall, who invited all shortlisted nominees to the stage for recognition of their work, and then announced the winner of the category as Jessica Marina Bridge of Renaissance UK.

“I’m a qualified Cognitive Behavioural Therapist and I work with Renaissance UK, volunteering hours with them, I work with individuals suffering with sexual health issues, trauma, addiction, drugs, alcohol and the LGBTQ community as well, so I was working with them while I was qualifying as a CBT therapist and since then I’ve been volunteering my hours ever since. I couldn’t imagine not being with them, they’re just a brilliant team! – Jessica Marina Bridge, Renaissance UK.

In recognition of the shortlisted candidates’ work, awarded highly commended certificates were presented to Beryl Lymer of Spring into Action, Donna Hannigan of URPotential, Katy Smith of Child Action Northwest, Krysti-Ann Monroe of Lancashire Women, Tina Calderbank of SHAPE Lancashire and Yasmin Shakir of PUKAR.

 

 

Social Enterprise Champion 2021
Presented by 2019 Champion Paula Gamester

Paula Gamester of The Sewing Rooms in Skelmersdale was the Social Enterprise Champion winner in 2019; Selnet’s last Awards ceremony due to Covid. Paula presented this award, saying: “I am absolutely delighted to announce that the 2021 Social Enterprise Champion is Tony Carr”:

Tony was very surprised, and on accepting the award, said “It’s very kind and thank you to the judges, and everybody who has been involved in this awards ceremony. I’m very lucky – I’ve had 2 careers, my first career was 30 years as a retailer, then I moved to our sector and its given me enormous job satisfaction, because now I enjoy going to work and I enjoy the results of the work, which is something that never happened before.

That work was all money-based, and this is about people. Job satisfaction is everything: when we can see the fruits of our work and see that peoples’ lives have changed. So, thank you very much for this award!”

Shortlisted nominees were Annie Wynn of Let’s Grow Preston, Dave Scholes of Mindsight, Linda Markey of URPotential and Tony Carr of Social Enterprise Solutions CIC.

 

Social Enterprise of the Year 2021
Sponsored by Social Enterprise UK

The final category, sponsored by Social Enterprise UK, shortlisted 27 candidates from all social enterprises shortlisted at the 2021 awards.

Liz Tapner presented this award on behalf of Social Enterprise UK, saying “I am so pleased to announce that for the second year running the Social Enterprise of the Year 2021 is Child Action Northwest”

Michelle Dixon, Head of Service at Child Action Northwest said: “I work with these wonderful people, the only thing that I can say is that everyone does an amazing job, day in, day out – as I’m sure everyone does in the room, to win it the second time – we thought there was no way, so I’m absolutely thrilled, I’m more thrilled with friends and colleagues who stand by me because they’re the ones who go out every day and do what they do – thanks guys, you’re brilliant!”

 

About the 2021 Enterprise in Society Awards

• Hosted by Vice Chair Alistair Clarke MBE, awarded MBE in 2020
• Welcome address and Social Enterprise of the Year award presented by Liz Tapner MBE, awarded in July 2021.
• Sponsors: Recycling Lives, Calico Enterprises, The Sewing Rooms, Social Enterprise UK, Livv Housing and Unity Trust Bank.
• The largest social enterprise awards in England, outside of Social Enterprise UK.
• Judging panel: Adam Holden, Paula Brown, Investment Manager of Livv Housing Group and Margaret Porter, Relationship Manager of Unity Trust Bank
• #BuySocial giftbags produced by The Sewing Rooms: 5 staff members and 5 volunteers were involved in design and production, with each bag made from end of roll textiles and salvaged textiles otherwise destined to landfill; 1500 metres of fabric were used, the equivalent to cover 2 full sized football pitches!
• Awards held on 02/12/21 with hashtag #SelnetAwards
• Selnet’s Tagline: For People | For Business | For Good

 

A huge thank you to our sponsors!

 

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Selnet named a finalist in The Education, Training & Jobs category of prestigious national Awards, recognising businesses which are transforming society.

The Social Enterprise Lancashire Network, ‘Selnet’ has been shortlisted in the UK Social Enterprise Awards, recognising it as one of the leading social enterprises in the country.

Selnet based in Preston is a UK finalist in the ‘Education, Training & Jobs’ category. It is a business that exists to enable, secure and develop frontline social enterprises across Lancashire.

Since 2007 Selnet have been supporting social enterprises across Lancashire, Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen to start-up, connect, develop and grow. By developing and managing projects like Building Better Opportunities, Selnet lead programmes so social enterprises can secure revenue through their specialism; all to deliver contracts that transform lives. Selnet CEO Liz Tapner MBE said:

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“Before Covid hit, we had just relocated to a social enterprise landlord. 3 months later the team were all working from home, maintaining existing contracts that support highly vulnerable people, securing new opportunities and maintaining communications across the network – all enabling the sector to survive, adapt and feel empowered.”

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As lockdown covered our communities, Selnet worked intensively to maintain delivery, working with 5 specialist social enterprise partnerships and commissioners so that essential services for disadvantaged people could continue.

While maintaining and supporting teams delivering projects across Lancashire, Selnet worked hard to enable sustainability, resilience and impact of social enterprises.

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We worked hard supporting frontline social enterprises whose services have never been more needed. We bid, secured and mobilised a high-level ERDF funded business start-up and growth support programme, ‘DR!VE’ – we and our 4 delivery partners have all invested our own reserves, to make this support possible; all specialising in social enterprises – and blimey its good timing!

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On hearing the news of being shortlisted, Selnet’s senior management team Liz Tapner MBE and Donna Marshall were delighted.

Selnet lead programmes creating opportunities for social enterprises to support our  communities, enabling social entrepreneurs to develop skills and achieve their ambitions, respond to challenges, tackle inequalities, and empower our communities.

Social enterprises are businesses which trade for a social or environmental purpose. There are 100,000 social enterprises in the UK contributing £60bn to the UK economy, each one being set up to tackle some of the biggest challenges we face from homelessness to the climate emergency.

The UK Social Enterprise Awards run by Social Enterprise UK, the national membership body for social enterprises, recognise the nation’s most pioneering social enterprises.  Selnet will be joining other shortlisted organisations at the prestigious awards ceremony held at London’s iconic Guildhall on 8 December.

This year the Awards featured two new categories one recognising a Social Enterprise Building Diversity, Inclusion, Equity & Justice and the other for the Social Enterprise Team of the Year – a category specifically acknowledging those teams which have demonstrated the strength, passion and resilience so characteristic of the social enterprise sector over an extremely challenging year.

Previous winners have included a company set up to tackle furniture poverty, an IT consultancy employing people with autism and a community energy co-operative – demonstrating just how diverse the social enterprise sector is.

 

Commenting on the Awards, Chief Executive of Social Enterprise UK Peter Holbrook said:

The UK Social Enterprise Awards are back, bigger and better than ever before. We have had a record number of applications this year, all of which have showcased the strength, dynamism and resilience of the social enterprise community through what’s been an incredibly difficult and uncertain period.

Over the course of the pandemic social enterprises have been going above and beyond the call of duty to support their teams, the individuals, and communities they work with, showing the grit, determination and innovation so inherent to this sector. They’ve been operating directly on the frontline of the crisis, launching new products and pivoting their business models to meet the needs of communities and society as a whole.

The Awards are all about celebrating the achievements of the UK’s social enterprise movement, which is showing us that another way of doing business is possible – one which has never been more important as we look to build back better and address the climate emergency.”

 

Are you a Lancashire social enterprise? Join Selnet!

If you are trading for a social or environmental purpose, we can support you to start-up, develop, connect and grow. Being part of Lancashire’s wider social enterprise community enables your access to additional services and resources, up-to-date sector news, funding information, networking events, training opportunities and a platform to promote your business.

For more information speak to our Membership Lead Officer Yvette Holden on yvette@selnet-uk.com or 01772 200 690 or visit www.selnet-uk.com/join-selnet

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The annual NatWest SE100 Social Business Awards recognise the most outstanding achievers in UK social enterprise, with top awards in six categories this year.

The NatWest SE100 celebrates the success of socially-driven ventures across the UK – by naming the most impressive 100 social enterprises of the year in a top 100 Index, and giving six SE100 Social Business Awards for the most outstanding achievers. It was created by Pioneers Post in partnership with NatWest more than 10 years ago and aims to support social enterprises not only through recognising their achievements but also by sharing their stories and expertise through articles, films and networking opportunities.

NatWest Social & Community Capital’s Megan Virrels said: “It’s always one of my highlights reviewing the SE100 entries and seeing how many examples of resilience, courage and perseverance there are in our sector. The winners have all shown incredible dedication and commitment to delivering a positive future for some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged among us. I hope you all feel rightly proud in the difference that you are making to communities across the UK and beyond.”

 

Selnet recognised for 3rd consecutive year

Selnet exists to enable, develop and support the vital work across Lancashire’s frontline social enterprises. Since 2007 we have been supporting social enterprises across Lancashire, Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen to connect, develop and grow, through:

• Our vibrant, impactful membership network
• Specialist business start-up and growth advice and support
• Securing opportunities for our members
• Developing and leading partnerships
• Promotion and representation on a local, regional and national basis.

Our impacts continue to increase from our support and training for members during Covid to our contract extensions – and our work towards securing opportunities for our social enterprises and their communities. We have now secured over £23.8M for our sector; securing opportunities, enabling partnerships, managing contracts and accessing funded business development services.

 

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We are thrilled and honoured to be recognised as one of the top 100 Social Enterprises in the UK for the 3rd year running!

It’s a testament to the dedicated and passionate team at Selnet, working hard on behalf of our members and for Lancashire residents.’

Donna Marshall, Partnership Manager

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The Sewing Rooms Leaders shortlisted for Leaders of the Year

Huge congratulations for Paula Gamester & Maureen Fazal who were shortlisted for Leader of the Year as Co-founders of The Sewing Rooms / Connector Media: “for social enterprise bosses demonstrating excellent leadership, effectiveness and inspiration in taking the team on a mission-driven journey to success”

 

Want to know more about Selnet? 

During Covid we have invested in a Membership Lead Officer to engage and support our sector. To find out more about becoming a Selnet member contact Yvette Holden

Read the full Pioneers Post article here

 

 

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SHARING EXPERIENCES TO MEET THE CURRENT CHALLENGES

Whether it is business disruption, staffing issues, a change in customer needs or a host of other issues affecting your social enterprise, Selnet understands that you are facing some of the biggest business challenges.

In some cases, it’s a challenge just to make ends meet. We’re here to help.

Selnet was excited to be rolling out a national networking programme for social enterprise leaders in Lancashire that want to maintain and develop their organisation for future success.

 

Start Planning For The Future

Starting in early 2021, this intensive programme will took 18 hours over 8 weeks (government funded so no cost to the businesses). Together social enterprise leaders in Lancashire learnt from each other’s shared experiences as a Peer Network.

Each group consisted of 8-to-10 business leaders led by an experienced facilitator. In addition, there was bespoke business support for organisations and a series of masterclasses to learn new skills.

The Programme supported participants to:

• Overcome business challenges and act on new opportunities
• Build a trusted network of connections for support now and in the future
• Improve long-term personal and business performance
• Consider ways to increase turnover and social impact
• Use the Peer Network to help overcome challenges or make changes in your social enterprise

Not placed in a group with any direct competitors, participants could openly share their expertise and benefit from others, without fear of compromising their competitive advantages.

This was not formal management or skills training it provided personal development focus with flexible topics worked though with the help of a professional facilitator and in small groups of likeminded social enterprise leaders in a similar situation.

 

Timetable

Group 1
Wednesday mornings starting Wednesday 10th February then 24th Feb and 3rd 17th and 24th March (Additional project activity will be planned around your schedule)

Group 2
Friday afternoons starting Friday 12th February then 26th Feb and 5th 19th and 26th March (Additional project activity will be planned around your schedule)

Who Is It For?
This support is for anyone working in the social enterprise sector in Lancashire. Leaders now – and leaders of the future.

The agenda is set by the group. The context is supporting each other to develop new ways of working and building knowledge and skills to expand your organisation’s impact.

 

Why Take Part?

Participating in a peer group can help participants gain fresh perspectives, inspire new ideas and change habits of thinking. It helped form new contacts, built networks and gained valuable professional and personal support from a team of like-minded peers. The group was a place to try out new ideas before they were fully formed, and to share difficulties as well as celebrate successes.

 

Participate in Peer Networks

Participating social enterprises should have a trading address within the Lancashire LEP area and have:

*SMEs that do not meet this criteria due to Covid-19, but did meet the criteria during the 12 months prior to March 2020 are also eligible

 

If you have any questions about this programme email Yvette Holden on yvette@selnet-uk.com.

 

 

The programme was jointly funded by BEIS and Lancashire County Council

 

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Selnet have been approved as a Gateway provider for the Government’s Kickstart Scheme, providing funding to employers to create job placements for 16 to 24 year olds on Universal Credit.

About the Kickstart Scheme
The Kickstart Scheme provides funding to create new job placements for 16 to 24 year olds on Universal Credit who are at risk of long term unemployment. Employers of all sizes can apply for funding which covers:

• 100% of the National Minimum Wage (or the National Living Wage depending on the age of the participant) for 25 hours per week for a total of 6 months
• associated employer National Insurance contributions
• employer minimum automatic enrolment contributions

Employers can spread the start date of the job placements up until the end of December 2021.

Selnet as a Gateway Provider
Selnet recognise that social enterprises across Lancashire are in a unique position to offer excellent opportunities to young people however this is unlikely to be at scale. In becoming a Gateway provider, Selnet aim to make it easy for our members to get involved, whether you can provide just one placement or several.

What employers will receive
In addition to the wages cost, the Government are providing further on-boarding costs of £1,500 per job placement. This is to support the young person with training and to help them become ‘job ready’, as well as helping with any set-up costs. Selnet will be on-hand to advise employers how to make best use of this funding to ensure a positive outcome for all. 

Start date
Working with 11 Selnet members, we have our first 50 placements approved and are hoping to have the young people in post early in the New Year.

We are now able to vary our agreement with DWP and extend this offer to other businesses that can support a young person.

 

Interested?

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If you have a placement to offer and would like to work with us, fill out this quick Expression of Interest (EoI). We need just a few details about your business and the type of roles you’re planning to offer.

Please complete and return your Expression of Interest to Yvette (Yvette@selnet-uk.com) who will be happy to help.

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Further Information

Job Placement Criteria
The job placements created must be new jobs. The placements must not:

• Replace existing or planned vacancies
• Cause existing employees, apprentices or contractors to lose work or reduce their working hours

The job placements must:

• Be a minimum of 25 hours per week, for 6 months
• Pay at least the national minimum wage or the national living wage for the employee’s age group
• Only require basic training

What is a Gateway

Gateway Representatives have been selected by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) as credible organisations with experience in managing partnerships agreements and have a robust financial and governance process to manage Kickstart placement procedures.

The DWP has checked and approved Selnet as a Kickstart Gateway using the Cabinet Office Spotlight Tool.

If you’re creating fewer than 30 job placements, as a Kickstart gateway Selnet can apply for a Kickstart Scheme grant for you.

This does not guarantee that you will get Kickstart Scheme funding. Your application will be assessed against the Kickstart Scheme criteria by DWP.

 

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