Nottingham SE Hub

www.nottinghamsehub.com

07595535200

[email protected]

Nottingham SE Hub

A guide to support for Nottingham’s Social

Enterprises

Introduction

Welcome to the �rst version of a guide to the business support available to Nottingham’s social enterprises.

The concept of a guide came from the research we conducted for NottinghamCity Council, about the state of Nottingham’s social enteprise sector.

What was apparent was that there is a number of agencies who said they supported social enterprises but there was little clarity about their o�er. That is in part due to the organic growth of support and that, for most organisations, social enterprise support is only part of their o�er.

So when we were asked to facilitate the new Nottingham social enterprise hub we wanted to ensure that all emerging and existing social enterprises and entrepreneurs knew who was around to help them and what they can o�er you.

To produce this guide we have spoken to all the agencies and asked them whattheir o�er is to social enterprises. There is loads out there, so please make sure you take full advantage of the services available.

We hope you �nd the guide useful. Let us know how you get on. You can email us at [email protected].

Even better, sign up to the hub- www.nottinghamsehub.com- and share your experiences of the support you receive. You can also get lots of information aboutfunding, events and training there.

You can also �nd a copy of the report on the hub website.

We hope you �nd the support you need to make a success of your social enterprise

The SE Hub Team

Specialist training

Workshops

Consultancy

Advice/Information

Signposting

Strategic role

Funding

Training,Workshops& Events

Accomm-odation &room hire

Support andguidance

Commissioning Support

Index of Support available in NottinghamIf you know what kind of support you want, have a look under the headings and go to the organinsation’s page for further details

Capacity building

Workshops

Advice/Information

Signposting

Funding

Support andguidance

Specialist workshops for social enterprises in collaboration with SEEMStart up workshops for businesses including social enterprises (with Nottinghamshire Business Venture)Wide range of events for any and all kinds of businesses including social enterprises – from marketing to tax to employing sta� to growing your businessE-business programme – lots of events and workshops to help make best use of ICT. To get straight to this programme, go to www.ebusinessclub.biz

The Business Link website has a vast range of information at all stages of developmentFrom an initial start up idea to a multi-national businessFor any business that wants to grow or improveGuides/WorksheetsInteractive toolsBasic market research informationNews and newslettersEventsCase studies

For established businessesBusiness Link support to start up businesses is delivered by Nottinghamshire Business Venture – see NBV page/tube line for detailsFace to face meeting(s), at you own workplace or somewhere convenient to you to explore what support you are looking forAction Plan highlighting areas for development/improvement using “balanced scorecard” approachVision and StrategyCustomersFinancialLearning and GrowthInternal processesAll Business Link advisers have attended a short programme on social enterpriseCritical friend support – eg feedback on business plansRefer to specialist support as needed – some free, some require payment (see Signposting station)This includes Pro-Help, pro-bono (free) help for third sector organisations including social enterprisesAccess to training for entrepreneurs and managers eg leadership training, business management etc

Referral/signposting to specialist support based on the Action Plan, some free, some requires paymentIncludesBusiness Champions – experienced business people willing to share experience or o�er critical feedback Legal helpMarket research advice/infoBusiness advisers with suitable knowledge/experience who can o�er a “charged for” serviceSpecialist social enterprise business advisers – some will charge

Business Transformation Grant for Social Enterprises, in partnership with SEEM – access only as part of an ActionPlan agreed with a Business Link adviser “Leaders First” funding for leadership and management development for businesses with at least 5 sta� (to Dec 2010)Advice on investment funding – eg loans, equity �nanceEnterprise Finance GuaranteeSmall Loans for Businesses managed by First Enterprise Business Agency

www.businesslink.gov.uk

0845 058 6644

[email protected]

Capacitybuilding

Workshops

Accommo-dation

Advice/Information

Signposting

Strategic role

Funding

0115 8764928

Individuals to get involved in the �rst placeCommunity Groups to work out what they want to do and the best way of organising themselvesto do itIf best to be a community or voluntary group, then help with setting up, constitution etcIf best to become a social enterprise, will give early support as with any community group and help�nd advice with developing as an enterprise

Community Centres that want to rent space – often low costBuildings managed by community and voluntary organisations

Mainly tailored to the needs of speci�c community and voluntary groups, including some which might want to work towards becoming social enterprises Could include diversifying income Not specialist social enterprise/trading

Advice and informationFace to face and written adviceAim to be simple and visual Tailored to needs of speci�c groupsLegal issues for voluntary organisationsRecruiting/role of TrusteesFunding and grantsModel policies, accounts, role of o�cers etc

To social enterprise and business support agenciesTo people who might be able to �nd business mentorsTo other, more established social enterprisesTo other organisations who might be able to meet some speci�c needs (eg accommodation)

Strategic role – for community transformation - includesCommunities better able to meet their own needs through locally designed services deliveredby groups rooted in their communitiesIncluding businesses run with social goals rather than for individual pro�t

Grant aidFor constituted groups, do not need to have charitable statusTender out/procure services to be delivered to local residents

Handholding from initial set-up to independenceGroups can come back when they run into problems – sometimes years laterAdvantage of not being dependent on short term funding is that you are still there for groups to come back to

Support andguidance

[email protected]

Google - Nottingham City Council Community Cohesion Team

Specialist training

Workshops

Consultancy

Visits programme to see how other social enterprises work and hear about work in practiceSpeakers programme with experienced social entrepreneurs sharing their experience and answering questions - Programmes available from time to time, dependent on securing funding/generating income:9 months (approx) course for social entrepreneurs, based on successful national modelLeadership training for pre-start or established social entrepreneurs

Approximately 10 hours mentoring with a mentor with knowledge and experience that matches your needsOver a period of up to around 6 monthsAfter this, SSE can o�er continued mentoring on a paid basis

Action learning sets where a group of 5-6 social entrepreneurs share their journey and their learning, suggest solutions to problems, help and advise each other over a number of months or longer

As part of mentoring – see aboveCommissioning Support

www.sse.org.uk – click on East Midlands Regional School

[email protected]

0115 875 8828

Fergus Brazel, Programme Manager

Workshops

Accommo-dation

Advice/Information

Commissioningsupport

Strategic role

Funding

Support andguidance

O�ce units for micro businessesReceptionAccess to meeting and training roomsOptions for telephone handling, hotdesking and admin support

For pre-pre start up – ideas generationPre-start businesses – eg business awareness, �nancial planning, business planning etc

Business start up advice Advice to existing businesses in specialist areas, for exampleOverseas tradingSales and marketingFinancial and accounting adviceTelephone advice/signposting if appropriate to needs

Initial meeting with an adviser to agree areas of support and action planOne to one meetings with an adviserWork towards agreed outcomesIncludes referral to other organisations and appropriate training programmes – adviser will help with makingcontact if neededReview progress and agree any further actionOngoing informal relationship – some entrepreneurs return to FEBA when they need some further support even after several years

Procurement workshopsProcurement advice

First Enterprise Business Loans£3,000 – £20,000 at competitive rates, repayable over maximum of 5 yearsFrom time to time FEBA manages government business grant programmes

Annual awards for business excellence in a range of categories

0115 942 3772

reception@�rstenterprise.co.uk

www.�rst-enterprise.co.uk

Servicedaccommo-

dation

Workshops

Advice/Information

Support /guidence

for start upsO�ce accommodation and virtual tenanciesIncludes shared o�ce resources, meeting rooms, conference facilities and administrative support

Start up workshopsOccasional events – eg Enterprising Christmas Fayre (opportunity to showcase and sell your\ wares) Access/signposting to workshops run by Business Link and other organisations

Telephone advisers direct callers to web based information, start up business workshops and/courses and other agencies or will make appointments with NBV advisers if neededTelephone advisers are geographically based and will have good knowledge of what is available in their area – eg organisations, opportunities, resources (including funding)Telephone advisers will follow up to �nd out if clients need any more helpEntrepreneurs can continue to contact NBV desk based advisers over the phone

An appointment with a named generic business adviser is usually o�ered within 5 days or otherwise according to needsThere is a specialist social enterprise adviser at NBVThe business adviser will explore in more depth what help is needed and how this could be met through a range of options including continuing to meet to review progress and plan next steps In some cases an arrangement could be made with a volunteer business mentor Support through NBV canlast up to 24 months – if further help is appropriate, the adviserwill arrange to hand over to a Business Link established business adviserSome businesses continue to call occasionally for informal support from an NBV adviser who has supported them over a period of time

0115 970 5550

[email protected]

www.nbv.co.uk

Specialisttraining

Training,Workshops& Events

Advice/Information

Support andguidance

0115 934 9548

www.nottinghamcvs.co.uk

[email protected]

Signposting

Strategic role

Funding

Accomm-odation &room hire

Human Resources / sta� management, employment legislation and best practiseCriminal Records Disclosure service and safeguarding policies and proceduresPay Roll service

Regular training programme, one-o� workshops, networking events and brie�ngsTailored training to groupsTraining programme includes: new legislation brie�ngs, policy developments that a�ect the voluntary sector, sta� development, governance, funding, commissioning and procurement, volunteer management and recruitment, developing consortia, business planning, managing buildings.

Helpdesk gives information and advice on all issues relating to setting up and running a group. Help with funding information and advice, information on training, requests for sample policies, advice on constitutions, legal structures and governance, and most other things that go on in the voluntary and community sector.Website is being developed to include lots of best practice examples e.g. model policiesWeekly e-bulletin (register through website) – funding and training opportunities, city, regional and national news and brie�ngs, information and events of interest to voluntary and community groupsLibrary with a wide range of resources – electronic and hard copies.

We can support you in the longer-term through our casework service. This involves a more detailed look at what your needs could be and how we can work together so you can meet your aims.Our casework service o�ers one to one support from a named sta� member on all aspects of running and developing a groupIncludes start up support to groups who need to work out what they want to do and the best ways of setting themselves up to do itSupport to more established organisations including revising or developing policies and procedures, legal structures, strategic / business planning, funding advice, quality assurance

Refer groups to other agencies when they need more specialist knowledgeFacilitate a Group Development Workers Network who are aware of what specialist support is around for the wider VCS

Main focus is within City boundaries

Information on local, regional and national funding for the VCSAdvice on seeking funding, funding applications, tendering for contracts

For voluntary and community organisations including social enterpriseCity centre locationReception service from 8.30 – 5.00

Specialist training

Capacity Building

Consultancy

Strategic role

Through placements Students, graduates and researchers may be able to provide some specialist training to social entrepreneurs/social enterprises as part of their placement.

Developing work to demonstrate value and impact of delivery through social enterprise

Through placements Undergraduates, mainly in the Business School or School of Computer Science will work within organisations on speci�c projects – for example on marketing, IT systems etc to meet the needs of the organisation and provide practical experience for the student. Number of hours and duration varies.

M.A. Sociology/Social Policy students can support long term organisational development/business plans – for example undertaking research, evidence of need/impact etc. Hours/duration/time scales by negotiation.

Developing a new opportunity to engage postgraduate students and University researchers at an early stage in their careers in work speci�cally with social enterprises. Likely to come from the Business School, School of Computer Science and Health and Social Care Institute to support development, for example in health and social care, early years, environment, creative industries, digital technology or other areas of growth for social enterprise. Up to 100 hours. There is a cost to the social enterprise of £3 per hour plus VAT.

Talent Builder (in collaboration with the University Careers Service) places graduate students in VCS organisations, including social enterprises, to apply their knowledge to practical outcomes. For example, a project, a speci�c piece of research, �nding solutions to problems, communications etc. 85 placements in 2009/10.

Through placements When appropriate, students, graduates and researchers will work with social entrepreneurs, sta� and othersto develop their skills and capacity

By improving systems (eg IT), support with business planning etc the students, graduates and researchers will improve organisational capacity

The Community Partnerships Team is working on a social impact tool to identify how organisations bene�t from student placements

Work with the University research and innovation services to develop stronger links with social enterprise and voluntary and community sectors, including potential for partnering with big business and the University.

Working on a system for accrediting placements which do not currently count towards course credits Raising pro�le of social enterprise and voluntary and community sectors – exploring possibility of a module aspart of courses within the Business School

Already lecture on social enterprise and voluntary and community sectors as part of Sociology course

0115 951 3718

[email protected]

www.nottingham.ac.uk/Community/CPTeamSharon Clancy, Team Leader

0115 846 [email protected]

Workshops

Accommo-dation

Advice/Information

Signposting

Funding

Support andguidance

Good quality, competitively priced o�ce accommodation in St Anns. Close to City Centre, some car parking, a meeting space for use of tenants.

For pre-pre-start up businesses, including social enterprises. Contacts potential entrepreneurs through local community leaders, community centres, local organisations, word of mouth, sessions targeted at speci�c groups (eg young people) and through the RT o�ces in Carlton Road. Posters, lea�ets etc in community venues. Phone or call in to Renewal Trust o�ces to make an appointment with one of the Enterprise Coaches.

Approximately monthly for people at an early stage of thinking about setting up a businessQuite informal, small numbers, explore ideas Develop thinking further through one to one support

One to one enterprise coaching Holistic service from one dedicated adviserDevelopment of a business plan, advice on all the key elementsAppointments usually within a few daysAt least 12 hours intensive supportContinue to o�er informal support as needed

To specialist help as needed eg legal, governance, accountancy, insurance, HR, IT etcTo face to face support, web based information or learning programmes

Enterprise Grant (linked to Enterprise Coaching package of support)To support start up costs before the business has started trading Provides 66% funding with other 33% to be found by the entrepreneur, up to maximum £1000 grant and paid following purchase of goods/services

0115 911 2226

www.renewaltrust.org.uk

[email protected]

First Steps in social enterprise – may include some handholding to �nd their way to other sources of support Master Classes - more in depth on speci�c topics eg Pro�table Pricing Models; Marketing and Social MediaFAIR learning programme for third sector infrastructure organisations who are increasingly being contactedabout social enterprise

For public sector to improve awareness/knowledge/understanding/opportunities for social enterpriseFor business and other support agencies to provide appropriate advice and guidance

One o� events for social enterprises on topical /major issues Occasional workshops for social enterprises in speci�c sectors – eg housing, re-cycling....For Business Advisers through BA Network

Basic and informal diagnostic discussion to enable appropriate signposting

To the most suitable and best quality support to meet identi�ed needsMaintaining good information on the range of support available through local, regional and national networksPartner with Business Champions to create mentoring/support partnerships with social enterprises

In�uence commissioners, improve their knowledge and awarenessIn�uence business support agencies to provide good services to social enterprisesIn�uence emda and successor bodyOccasional workshops and events to in�uence strategistsProduce and promote reports, drawing on practical experiencePartnership with Business Champions

Business Transformation Grant for Social Enterprises in partnership with Business LinkInformation on potential sources of investment/fundingSignpost to the most suitable routes for investment in speci�c enterprises

Specialist training

Workshops

Consultancy

Advice/Information

Signposting

Strategic role

Funding

0115 8714766

www.seem.uk.net

[email protected]

Jules Sebelin