Hundreds of people from policy, practice and support arenas came together for Focusing on Success – the first ever West Midlands Social Enterprise Convention. The jam-packed event proved tremendously popular, demonstrating a commitment from the region’s public, private and third sector to the ongoing growth of social enterprise.
The event, which took place in Dudley on 29 January 2008, was held by Social Enterprise West Midlands with funding from Advantage West Midlands. It celebrated and raised awareness of the region’s social enterprise sector and featured a diverse programme of engaging key speakers, a showcase film of local social enterprises, informative seminars and an exhibition of innovative enterprises from across the West Midlands. |
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| From left: Martin Kinsella, P3; Marie Greer, Advantage West Midlands; Sarah Crawley, I’SE; Jean Jarvis, South Shropshire Furniture Scheme; John Mawson, Social Enterprise West Midlands; Adrian Goldberg, The Stirrer. |
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It also facilitated discussions on topical sector issues, and gave delegates an opportunity to share experiences, identify challenges, and foster crucial cross-sector relationships.
Key discussion points throughout the day included the advantages of partnership-working, with delegates exploring the possibilities of joint tendering, service design and delivery. Speakers and delegates also discussed the opportunities for social enterprises to design and deliver public services, and looked at how public sector bodies can use the social enterprise model to bridge gaps in existing service provision.
In his recorded address to the convention, Phil Hope, Minister for the Third Sector, emphasised the government’s commitment to social enterprise and encouraged the region’s local authorities to procure services from the sector. He said: “I want to see more social enterprises involved in the provision of public services. Not only because they can deliver good services, but because they bring vibrancy, they bring edge, and I think they bring innovation to community services that sometimes the government finds quite hard to deliver.”
Delegates also heard inspirational presentations from two of the newly-appointed social enterprise ambassadors from the West Midlands. Jean Jarvis, chief executive of South Shropshire Furniture Scheme, explained how she and her team have turned a furniture reuse project with a £1,500 grant into a business with a £500,000 turnover. Since it was established in 1999, the social enterprise has diversified to offer additional services including electrical and computer recycling, and it also delivers training in areas such as carpentry for people that are disadvantaged in the labour market.
Jean said: “I am inspired by this sector because it is possible to really make a difference to people’s lives. It is never boring, and I love being able to take a risk and give a chance to an individual who would find it hard to access employment in the private or public sector. The hard work, worry and extra hours I put in are rewarded by seeing people develop and grow in confidence and move on to great things.”
Ambassador Martin Kinsella, chief executive of P3, also spoke at the event. P3 is an award-winning enterprise in Derbyshire that operates services and creates opportunities for vulnerable and disadvantaged people that offer effective and lasting routes out of social exclusion and homelessness.
Speaking on the success of the event, Kevin Maton, network director of Social Enterprise West Midlands, said: “The turnout at our convention was impressive, with over 200 people representing a range of agencies and social enterprises, eager to find out more about what’s happening here in the West Midlands. Now we’ll be building on that success, following up with the many people looking for further information or assistance in spreading the message about benefits of social enterprise – rightly being promoted as the business model for the 21st Century.“
www.socialenterprisewm.org.uk
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