News & Events
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"Seeing is believing" say Social Enterprise Ambassadors | Promoting social enterprise involvement in the Olympic Legacy | The value of mentoring | ||
14 September 2010 | 29 July 2010 | 15 July 2010 | ||
The Social Enterprise Ambassadors last night called for a ‘Seeing is Believing’ approach to social enterprise at an event in central London to celebrate the completion of the three-year Programme. | The ambassadors’ efforts to get social enterprises involved in the 2012 Olympics have continued this month along with activity designed to promote social enterprise amongst young people | This week ambassadors have been meeting with Government departments as well as offering advice to the next generation of social enterpreneurs. | ||
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International governments visit ambassador and mentoring scheme gets underway | Ambassadors debate Big Society and host Hong Kong officials | Marking three incredible years – and looking ahead to the future | ||
29 June 2010 | 17 June 2010 | 9 June 2010 | ||
Another busy week for the Social Enterprise Ambassadors as they host overseas visits and use the benefit of their expertise to support new and emerging social entrepreneurs. | Several of the ambassadors are actively engaged in debates on the government’s Big Society, ensuring that social entrepreneurs’ voices are heard. | This summer the Social Enterprise Ambassadors programme will complete its remarkable run. Read on to find out what's happening over the next few months. | ||
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Winners of the ultimate social enter-prize announced! | Growing new social enterprises in Shropshire and NHS work steps up | Election fever, hot new products, and sharing expertise | ||
2 June 2010 | 16 May 2010 | 25 April 2010 | ||
Twenty-eight individuals with a love of social enterprise have successfully competed to win a two-hour mentoring session with their Social Enterprise Ambassador of choice. | The Ambassadors have been continuing to spread the social enterprise message all around the country, with Jean Jarvis holding showcase events, and Dr Sam Everington and Lord Adebowale flying the flag for social enterprise in the health and social care sector. | With the election campaign well underway the Ambassadors have been voicing what they want to see from political parties, as well as visiting social enterprise projects all over the country to share their expertise. | ||
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Meeting corporates and international knowledge sharing | Ambassadors lead the way in justice and health developments | Ambassadors Supporting the Next Generation | ||
1 April 2010 | 17 March 2010 | 12 March 2010 | ||
The Ambassadors reached out to share their knowledge and expertise with some high fliers in the corporate world, as well as budding social entrepreneurs the world over. | Ambassadors, Martin Kinsella, Karen Lowthrop, and Jean Jarvis strongly demonstrate how social enterprise can provide a steadying hand in helping ex-offenders and those with health and personal problems improve their future. Read about the ambassadors work with the Ministry of Justice and Department of Health here. | The future generation is getting an invaluable insight into the world of Social Enterprise with Ambassadors' school visits and their involvement in projects focused on the next generation. | ||
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P3 tops list of Best Companies to Work For | Turning Point delivers more for less | Addressing huge audiences, agenda setting and crucial work with schools | ||
11 March 2010 | 8 March 2010 | 26 February 2010 | ||
P3 wins the title of 'Best Company to Work For' from the The Sunday Times - Read all about what makes P3 a great place to work in this article by the The Times. | An article on Turning Point, focusing on the company's ability to combine the best characteristics of a charity organisation and of a private, commercial business, has been featured in The Daily Telegraph. Read the full article here. |
Voice10 marked the start of a busy month for the Ambassadors who attended a range of speaking events at which they shared their expertise and worked to spread the message of social enterprise to politicians, civil servants and young people. | ||
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HCT Group set to expand using £5million 'social loan | Students get a masterclass in social enterprise from Tim Campbell | Coutts CEO says job swap with ambassador was ‘An education’ | ||
22 February 2010 | 19 February 2010 | 16 February 2010 | ||
HCT Group, the community transport social enterprise run by Dai Powell, has secured support from social investors to help it buy more vehicles and recruit new staff. | Students running a social enterprise at St Michael’s Catholic School in Bermondsey, London, have been given some top business advice by ambassador Tim Campbell. | The head of major private bank, Coutts, has said he discovered “a whole new world” through taking part in a ‘job swap’ with ambassador Nigel Kershaw, head of Big Issue Invest. | ||
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Ambassador's work pays off as O2 announces commitment to social enterprise | Ambassadors' mentoring competition launches at Voice10 | Job swap gives Cabinet Office Minister a taste for social enterprise | ||
2 February 2010 | 1 February 2010 | 29 January 2010 | ||
Ambassador Sam Conniff's work to get telecoms company 02 supporting social enterprise has paid off, after the company announced plans to introduce a bespoke business package for social enterprises at Voice 10 in Cardiff yesterday. | What can you do in two hours? Watch a film? Catch a tube from one side of London to the other? How about give your business the lift, energy and direction it needs to make big waves? | Cabinet Office Minister Angela Smith has been given a taste of a social enterprise, in an exciting job swap with MD of Divine and Social Enterprise Ambassador Sophi Tranchell.
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More social enterprise for the new decade, as ambassadors get off to a busy start | Nigel Kershaw receives OBE in New Year Honours | Inspiring business leaders, public services campaign hits its stride, and lots of media coverage | ||
28 January 2010 | 5 January 2010 | 15 December 2009 | ||
The Ambassadors have started the new year with a renewed commitment to spreading the word about social enterprise. In schools and universities, with government ministers and big business - the Ambassadors are taking the message far and wide for 2010. | Social enterprise ambassador and CEO of Big Issue Invest Nigel Kershaw is one of at least eight people involved in social enterprise awarded in the New Year Honours List 2010. | Once again the Ambassadors have been out and about spreading the word about social enterprise to diverse audiences including small business owners, young people and civil servants.
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Ambassadors inspire hundreds of young people during GEW celebrations | No10, One Big Idea, awards and more for Social Enterprise Day | Social Enterprise Ambassadors call for public sector to give credit where credit’s due | ||
27 November 2009 | 20 November 2009 | 19 November 2009 | ||
Schoolchildren up and down the country have been visited by ambassadors in the last two weeks to introduce them to social enterprise and get them working on their own social enterprise projects. | The nation’s knowledge, understanding and passion for social enterprise has surely quadrupled (at least) this week with the huge variety of activities the ambassadors have organised or attended. | The Social Enterprise Ambassadors are marking Social Enterprise Day by calling for public sector spending decisions to fairly give credit for the added benefits that social enterprises deliver. | ||
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Ambassadors’ experience matches positive research findings | Social Enterprise Day, job swaps and spreading the word... | The Guardian, Google, and growing social enterprises... | ||
19 November 2009 | 16 November 2009 | 6 November 2009 | ||
Research published by Social Enterprise Coalition on 19th November revealed that the future looks bright for the industry, with social enterprises proving to be recession-busting. The optimistic findings match the recent experiences of many of the Social Enterprise Ambassadors. | It’s Social Enterprise Day this Thursday and there’s a buzz in the air. It’s a massive opportunity for the ambassadors to ignite and grow the country’s love for social enterprise. Find out what they've got planned and what they've been up to over the past couple of weeks. | It’s been another busy couple of weeks, with ambassadors reaching impressive heights in their mission to influence national and also, international, audiences. | ||
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South Shropshire Furniture Scheme recognised for successful partnership with the private sector | Angela Smith MP meets the Ambassadors and tours East London social enterprises | Ministry of Justice and NHS networks engage with ambassadors and lots more... | ||
6 November 2009 | 23 October 2009 | 19 October 2009 | ||
A partnership between South Shropshire Furniture Scheme (SSFS), run by Jean Jarvis and Veolia Environmental Services, has been named as one of the top three recycling partnerships in the country. | Third Sector Minister Angela Smith has said she will work with the ambassadors to help commissioners understand social enterprise and to encourage job swaps between mainstream business and social enterprise. | As ever, the ambassadors have been capturing the hearts and minds of new and important audiences at recent events and meetings. This update features some of the latest highlights, but don’t forget to check the blogs and twitter for daily updates. | ||
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Angels housekeeping features in The Guardian's public services debate | Sam Conniff features in Children & Young People Now magazine | Social Enterprise Ambassador named Chief Executive Designate of the Social Enterprise Coalition | ||
29 September 2009 | 23 September 2009 | 22 September 2009 | ||
Angels Housekeeping, led by ambassador Gill Coupland, features as one of The Guardian's case studies in their new series debating the future of public services | Ambassador Sam Conniff talks about Livity and the role of social enterprises in running services for young people in Children & Young People Now magazine | The Social Enterprise Coalition (SEC) announced today that Social Enterprise Ambassador Peter Holbrook will become its new chief executive officer following the departure of Jonathan Bland in the New Year. Peter is currently CEO of Sunlight Development Trust in Gillingham, Kent. | ||
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Dr Sam Everington says social enterprises 'will complement the NHS' in Public Finance magazine | Hill Holt Wood wins 'Innovation in Sustainability' at the Lord Stafford Awards | Café Sunlight to join east London social enterprise food quarter | ||
17 September 2009 | 13 September 2009 | 6 September 2009 | ||
Ambassador Dr Sam Everington, who runs the Bromley by Bow Centre in East London, talks about the role of social enterprises in delivering healthcare in this article in Public Finance magazine. | Ambassador Karen Lowthrop's social enterprise Hill Holt Wood was announced winner of the Lord Stafford Award for 'Innovation in Sustainability' at a glittering finale in Lincolnshire on Thursday. | Ambassador Peter Holbrook has just announced a deal with fellow social enterprise CAN Mezzanine which will see Café Sunlight provide a lunch and catering service across three office blocks in London. | ||
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Europe minister belts up for social enterprise in Blackpool | Ken Orchard leaves Mid Devon Community Recycling | Ambassador stars in investment publication | ||
1 September 2009 | 27 August 2009 | 18 August 2009 | ||
Europe Minister Glenys Kinnock received an unusual souvenir after her meeting with social enterprise chiefs in Blackpool - one of Ambassador Kresse Wesling's recycled fire hose belts. | Ken Orchard announced earlier this week that he has taken voluntary redundancy from MDCR as part of a restructuring of the organisation. Because of this development, he is also stepping down as a Social Enterprise Ambassador. | Social Enterprise Ambassador Penny Newman is one of the stars in the UK’s first ever publication focusing exclusively on social investment.
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Kresse features in Sunday Times article on eco-entrepreneurs | First investors back Big Issue Invest fund with £1.75m | Ambassadors website revamped and relaunched | ||
18 August 2009 | 18 August 2009 | 18 August 2009 | ||
"Time is running out for exploiters and polluters" says Social Enterprise Ambassador Kresse Wesling in this Sunday Times article on eco-entrepreneurs | The new £10m Big Issue Invest fund, led by Social Enterprise Ambassador Nigel Kershaw, has just announced funding from two big investors. | The Social Enterprise Ambassadors programme has been revamped, repackaged and is relaunched today. | ||
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Ambassadors letter to the Guardian: Social enterprises can be part of the solution | Awards galore for South Shropshire Furniture Scheme | Tim Smit to speak at Scottish social enterprise event | ||
14 August 2009 | 13 August 2009 | 12 August 2009 | ||
In response to the Guardian article on how innovative councils are coping with the recession, ambassadors write about social enterprises providing essential services that are both community focused and offer great value for money. | South Shropshire Furniture Scheme (SSFS) is celebrating not one, but two, awards that will help it further its success as a sustainable social enterprise. | Ambassador Tim Smit will lead a masterclass in social enterprise at Paisley Abbey in Scotland on Wednesday 7 October. | ||
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Ambassadors speak out on public services delivery | Belu water features in this week's TIME magazine | HCT creates 120 jobs | ||
9 August 2009 | 7 August 2009 | 6 August 2009 | ||
A trio of Social Enterprise Ambassadors have made their case at recent events on the contribution that social enterprises can make to public service delivery. | Social Enterprise Ambassador Reed Paget and his bottled water company Belu take centre stage in this week's TIME magazine, in a special feature about entrepreneurial heroes. | Over 120 jobs for young people are being created by social enterprise transport provider HCT Group as a result of the first phase of the Future Jobs Fund. | ||
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Ambassadors lead growth plans worth millions | Tim Campbell reaches the finals of the Bank of Scotland Social Entrepreneur Awards | Sam Conniff features in ShortList magazine as one of Britain's most successful entrepreneurs | ||
3 August 2009 | 12 July 2009 | 8 July 2009 | ||
Two Social Enterprise Ambassadors are tackling the recession head on with expansion plans worth millions of pounds. | Social Enterprise Ambassador Tim Campbell, founder and chief executive of Bright Ideas Trust, is one of six finalists in the Bank of Scotland / Sunday Times Social Entrepreneur Awards 2009. | Social Enterprise Ambassador Sam Conniff features in ShortList magazine as one of the country's most successful entrepreneurs. Sam explains how he went from handing out chewing gum outside nightclubs to leading one of the country’s most successful social enterprises, Livity. | ||
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Divine story inspires teenagers | Hill Holt Wood scoops prestigious Green Apple Awards | Catch 22 and MakeBelieve Arts feature in Times article on creative social enterprises | ||
30 June 2009 | 29 June 2009 | 28 May 2009 | ||
More than 250 teenagers have been taught a new way of doing businesses thanks to the inspiring stories of Ambassador Sophi Tranchell. | Hill Holt Wood, run by ambassador Karen Lowthrop, has received three prestigious awards for the ground-breaking Eco-Community Hall project based onsite. | Ambassador Tokunbo Ajasa-Oluwa's social enterprise Catch 22 and Trisha Lee of MakeBelieve Arts feature in a new Times article focusing on how community-led creative and arts based social enterprises are addressing the most complex social and environmental needs | ||
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Devon NHS Trusts contract MDCR in ambitious recycling scheme | At major business conventions, on European DVDs and sharing knowledge with Age Concern | Ambassadors enterprise makes Sunday Times top 100 | ||
23 April 2009 | 15 April 2009 | 9 March 2009 | ||
Two Devon NHS Trusts have teamed up with social enterprise Mid Devon Community Recycling to help the NHS reduce its carbon footprint. | The ambassadors regularly speak to new audiences to demonstrate the potential of social enterprise. And, in our changing economy, they are finding a wider audience than ever before keen to hear about the transformative effect this kind of business can have in society. | P3, run by ambassador Martin Kinsella, has made the top ten in the Sunday Times Best 100 Small Companies to Work For. | ||
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Ambassadors latest: Influencing innovation, producing US TV and supplying celebs | HCT and Turning Point feature in Times article on social enterprise | Tokunbo listed alongside Obama in top 20 movers and shakers | ||
15 January 2009 | 9 January 2009 | 8 January 2009 | ||
This month, ambassadors are reaching all sectors of the UK and Sam from Livity is helping produce a US series for young people. | A new Times newspaper article on social enterprise highlights HCT, the community transport operation run by ambassador Dai Powell, and Turning Point - which provides services for people with complex needs and is run by ambassador Lord Victor Adebowale - as great examples of social enterprise. | Social Enterprise Ambassador Tokunbo Ajasa-Oluwa has been listed alongside Barak Obama and X Factor winner Alexandra Burke in The Voice newspaper’s list of 20 movers and shakers for 2009. | ||
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Sophi Tranchell awarded an MBE | Kresse mentors aspiring ethical businsesswoman | Third Sector minister visits Sunlight | ||
5 January 2009 | 12 December 2008 | 7 November 2008 | ||
Sophi Tranchell, managing director of Divine Chocolate, has been awarded an MBE in the Queen's New Year Honours list. |
| Minister for the Third Sector Kevin Brennan visited Peter Holbrook’s social enterprise the Sunlight Development Trust earlier this month. The visit was a chance for Mr Brennan to find out more about the work of Sunlight and the impact it is having in Gillingham as a social enterprise. | ||

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