Liz Tapner, CEO of Selnet, awarded MBE for services to social enterprise

The social impact of Liz Tapner’s work has been huge. She has led Selnet, the Social Enterprise Network for Lancashire, to secure over £23M investment through a variety of projects and contracts; all to enable social enterprises to achieve real change for disadvantaged people and deprived communities across Lancashire.

Working with a wide range of social enterprises, Liz’s work helps enable business solutions to tackle social problems; from training and skills development organisations to community cafes, and health and social care to performing arts.

Over 15 years, Liz has been responsible for developing Selnet into the major infrastructure organisation it is today. All this is rooted in enabling and directly engaging the sector, working closely with 12 sector representatives as Selnet’s Board of Directors and leading a passionate, active staff team.

Liz is nationally recognised as a sector leader for her hard work, inspiration and impacts. She has sustained Selnet across highly challenging times; she has secured significant opportunities for the sector and formal awards for her work.

Now, Liz has been awarded an MBE for Services to Social Enterprise, based on her phenomenal achievements.

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I have had over 15 amazing years working with some phenomenal social entrepreneurs. I love my work, helping others has helped me personally through some difficult times, and supports my own mental health.

Being recognised in this way, I feel humbled – it’s an unexpected honour. I went from being a service user with serious challenges, to becoming a CEO – and now I’m honoured at being awarded an MBE!

I built my skills, confidence, and a career I am so dedicated to – it’s all about bringing real opportunities and assistance to this amazing sector. The purpose is always to enable and support services that have real impacts on addressing social inequalities. – Liz Tapner MBE

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Selnet represents the interests of Lancashire’s social businesses at regional and national level. Bringing resources into Lancashire, this enables businesses to grow, local communities to prosper, and individuals to benefit from services and engage within their local area.

The Queens’ awards mark the achievements and services of extraordinary people across the UK. Securing a wide range of support services and supporting multiple partnerships over 15 years, Liz has secured over £23.8M for the growth and development of the social enterprise sector across Lancashire.

Graham Jones, Chair of Selnet Board said:

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This award is highly deserved, Liz Tapner’s work has encouraged social enterprises to grow and enhance the business activities that create jobs and benefit our communities.

Liz has ensured access to new opportunities; providing in-depth knowledge and practical support to strengthen and grow the social enterprise sector.

Graham Jones

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To find out more about Liz Tapner MBE and Selnet, visit www.selnet-uk.com or @SelnetLtd across social media.

Are you a 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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Building Better Opportunities (BBO) is a national programme from The National Lottery Community Fund who are matching funds from the European Social Fund (ESF) 2014-2020 to invest in local projects tackling the root causes of poverty, promoting social inclusion and driving local jobs and growth.

Selnet is leading three specialist partnership projects that are delivering support across Lancashire, Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen; ‘Age of Opportunity’, ‘Invest in Youth’ and ‘Changing Futures’ are unique in being delivered by 45 exclusively Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise Organisations. 

Each partner brings specific expertise in supporting disadvantaged people, and combine to provide individually tailored support, helping each participant to understand, address and overcome a wide range of barriers that they have identified will help them most. Participating in support from any of the 3 BBO projects is voluntary, free to access and does not affect rights to benefits.

BBO is dedicated to improving the prospects and wellbeing of people who are struggling with the kinds of complex barriers that make them ‘hard to reach’ for mainstream employment and training support services; these can include issues around mental health, low self-esteem and low confidence, health problems or disabilities, caring responsibilities, debt, low or no skills, access to childcare, BME, LGBT, chaotic lifestyles and substance misuse.

Initially, 3 years’ funding was secured for 3270 disadvantaged people to benefit from tailored support overcome complex barriers and move towards work and training.

As a result of the successful delivery of these 3 projects, our funding was extended to 2022, allowing a further 2960 disadvantaged people to receive support through the programme in Lancashire. Building Better Opportunities Lancashire will now be able to support 6230 people over the lifetime of the programme.

As of March 2021, Lancashire’s 3 Building Better Opportunities had engaged over 4400 people with barriers to work. With new skills, confidence and opportunities 960 had secured employment or self-employment, entered education or started a training course to pursue their interests and fulfil their ambitions.

Here are some of the people whose lives have been transformed by the support they have received:

Early in the programme we commissioned a social enterprise filmmaker to capture the impacts of the programme from the perspectives of delivery partners and participants:

Perhaps one of our projects could help you or someone you know?

Selnet’s Role

Selnet led a 12-month process of developing three Lancashire-wide partnerships to provide specialist employability and skills support to disadvantaged people. Two projects began in August 2016; the ‘Age of Opportunity’, supports the over-50s, and ‘Invest in Youth’, supports young people aged 15-24. The third project, ‘Changing Futures’, began in February 2017 and supports people with multiple and complex barriers to employment. 

In 2019, Selnet were successful in securing extensions to all 3 projects, bringing a total of £14.7M into Lancashire over the lifetime of the BBO programme.

To find out more, click on the links below to visit the project pages:

The Age of Opportunity project supports people who are over 50 and currently unemployed or economically inactive to improve their skills and employment opportunities.

The Invest in Youth project supports young people aged 15-24 who are unemployed or economically inactive including those not in employment, education or training ‘NEET’ or at risk of becoming NEET, to improve their skills and employability.

The Changing Futures project supports individuals who are at risk of exclusion from the labour market to overcome multiple and complex barriers and move towards employment and training.

Background Information on European Funding in Lancashire

The 2014-2020 European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) Growth Programme provides funds to help local areas stimulate growth. The funds support investment in innovation, businesses, skills and employment to improve local growth and create jobs.

A single ESIF Growth Programme has been set up to combine three separate European Funds. The Growth Programme provides funding to help projects in England that create jobs and economic growth.

For more information:

Lancashire LEP developed arrangements to ‘opt-in’ to the Big Lottery Fund (now known as The National Lottery Community Fund) to enable Lancashire to build a strong foundation for social inclusion programmes. This resulted in a £12.5m project for Lancashire in Building Better Opportunities joint funded by The National Lottery Community Fund and European Social Fund that will encompass 5 Lancashire projects.

Read more here:

European Structural Funds

https://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/global-content/programmes/england/building-better-opportunities/lancashire

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 Applications are now closed

Selnet is the recognised lead for social enterprise in Lancashire and is named within the UK’s Top 100 social enterprises; we help Lancashire’s social entrepreneurs achieve ambitions, respond to challenges, tackle inequalities and empower local communities.

We are a social enterprise, run by our members to meet the needs of our members. Selnet represents Lancashire’s social business interests at national, regional and local levels through our wide network of stakeholders and partners. Members of Selnet join like-minded business people to share ideas, network, grow and develop, find local connections and help open their business up to new markets. Through our communications channels, members receive up to date sector news, funding information, events and training updates and have a platform to promote their business.

We are investing in this core aspect of our mission, using trading surplus to create a new Membership Lead Officer role. This role will help us to give Selnet membership a whole new energy; by building our membership base, identifying members’ needs and helping us to meet them. The post-holder will also support the development of the business, working with the Network Manager and CEO to design an improved and more meaningful offer for members.

Download the Job Description and Person Specification here 

To apply for this position, please send a CV and covering letter directly addressing the Job Description and Person Specification provided to dawn@selnet-uk.com or by post to the address below by 12pm on 10^th March 2020.

Selnet Ltd
Brentwood House, Victoria Road
Fulwood, Preston
PR2 8PS

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Social enterprises across Lancashire are being encouraged to apply for social investment, offered by a Merseyside-based funder, to help them become more sustainable and enhance their social impact.

First Ark Social Investment (FASI) works with social enterprises and charities across the North West and is especially keen to partner with organisations in Lancashire.

FASI, together with Lancaster University and the Social Enterprise Network for Lancashire (Selnet) is offering local social enterprises the chance to attend a free ‘social investment workshop’. Held on 23 September, from 12.30 – 3.30pm, at FASS Meeting Room 2, North Campus, at the University, it will offer individuals face-to-face funding advice, support around applying for investment and there’s an opportunity to listen to talks by all partners.

FASI recently received an additional commitment of top-up funding from The Growth Fund, a partnership between The National Lottery Community Fund, Big Society Capital and Access – The Foundation for Social Investment. This additional backing will enable FASI to offer up to an additional £2.3m in ‘blended’ finance investments, made up of grants and loans, to social enterprises across the North West, including Lancashire.

Léann Hearne, Group Chief Executive Officer at First Ark Group, said:

 “We’re looking to work with any social enterprises in the area that promote social investment – from an organisation that upskills unemployed people, to a creative enterprise or sporting venture.

“If you’re wondering about how to grow your social organisation or charity come along to our free workshop at Lancaster University and speak to one of our team and listen to informed speakers.

“Many organisations in Lancashire might not be aware of the funds and strategic support we offer. We’re here to help social enterprises grow, become more sustainable, increase their social value and make a real difference within their communities.

“We’re particularly keen to support organisations in the area and want to raise awareness of how FASI can help create additional social impact and develop financial sustainability.”

Glyn Jones, Commercial Programme Manager at Lancaster University, added:

“Funding is a vital part of business growth and key to sustainability. It’s also one that causes the most concern for entrepreneurs and company owners. Social investment is a great option to consider through First Ark Social Investment, especially when supported by organisations like Selnet, which has a deep understanding of the social space in Lancashire.

“Selnet and First Ark both support our aspirations. Selnet is a great example of a pro-active network that positively contributes to the success and sustainability of its members, and First Ark’s social business model chimes with our aims in population health and sustainable care.”

Liz Tapner, Chief Executive Officer at Selnet, Lancashire’s social enterprise network, commented:

“Selnet is here to help Lancashire social enterprises to develop. We’re thrilled be working with First Ark Group again, in collaboration with Lancaster University. Many organisations might be wary of social investment, assuming it is too complex or out of reach to achieve. This is a great chance to understand how it actually works in practice, how it can enable organisations grow, access new opportunities and have an even greater impact.”

To book a place on the free social investment workshop please register here:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/social-investment-workshop-tickets-67193053231

To apply for funding from FASI please visit:

https://firstarksocialinvestment.com/pre-eio/

Download the press release here

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