The much awaited national social enterprise Visit Programme is now launched! This is the first national visit programme within the social enterprise sector to be made available since 2006 when the IUKE (Inside UK Enterprise) equivalent for social enterprise, funded under the Phoenix programme, ceased to exist. With the focus on work integration, 7 hosts around the UK are the first to open their doors to groups of visitors with co-ordination support by Social Firms UK. More hosts are already in the pipeline, including Broomby CIC in Yorkshire for example; all ready and willing to share their experiences and know-how with others who wish to learn, either for their own social enterprise developments or for other reasons. Social Firms UK is keen to promote this programme to as many people as possible, so do pass the website www.visitsocialenterprise.co.uk onto your networks and contacts please! Social Firms UK is very grateful to the Cabinet Office, Office of the Third Sector, for its support in the development and operation of this important component of social enterprise learning in the form of co-ordinated visits to the practitioners.
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Star Social Firms
Two of the hosts on the national visit programme also hold Star Social Firm status! Pembrokeshire FRAME and ISE both attained the much acclaimed Star Social Firm quality standard in 2008 (an independent quality standard developed by Social Firms UK and accredited by SFEDI, the standard setting body for small business). The standard is designed to demonstrate and evidence excellence in business and employment practice.
See www.starsocialfirms.co.uk for more information about the standard, and if you visit either Pembrokeshire FRAME or ISE you can find out directly from them what difference it’s made to their business!
Interested in social enterprises?
Why not consider buying from them – we’ve got members offering everything from an independent, fully bonded travel agency all the way through to contract gardening companies and printers. One of the best ways to grow the social enterprise sector is by putting our money where our mouth is and purchasing from them, and between ourselves. The Social Firm sector is fortunate in having a national online trade directory so that they are easy to find.: Go to http://www.socialfirmsuk.co.uk/tradedirectory/a-z to find out more!
Sunlight Radio, Sunlight Development Trust