Social Enterprise Support Centre Blog

Being Creative

2011-09-12T09:29:37Z

One of the joys of my job is carrying a client caseload. If that had to stop then so would I. Over time you develop your favourites and you learn loads: each sector has its own vocabulary, models, and practices. Sometimes there’s a gem for SESC like the time we developed a change strategy template and we still use it. My absolute favourites are definitely in health and social care. Partly because it’s what I would have done had the career gone to plan back in the day, but also because the caring professionals are innately social entrepreneurs; they have a built in social conscience and by making a living out of it. . . Well that’s my theory anyway.

Going for It: Early Thinking on Right 2 Provide

2011-05-03T09:07:21Z

We have had a steady stream of enquiries from people working in the public sector wanting to discuss externalising: how it works and what’s involved. Under Right 2 Request (R2R) there was a process for moving out, however under Right 2 Provide (R2P) the route is not so clear. This is partly because local authorities haven’t formulated their policies yet on whether they can/should/will support a Right to Provide process. A fundamental part of the externalisation is to work with management to ensure a smooth transition, garner support and be properly set up.

Blimey it’s cold

2010-12-09T14:46:14Z

According to BBC weatherman Paul Hudson, ‘it’s been the coldest winter since 1978/79 and is the 7th coldest winter since records began’. Paul was a speaker at Leeds’ Meanwood Valley Urban Farm’s AGM in September and his words on our changing climate impressed everyone.

It’s Different for Girls

2010-09-21T09:44:45Z

Following some triumphant exam results last month (BBC website) ‘For the first time girls are performing better than boys in the A-level exams. They overtook boys at GCSE level a few years ago. The fact that more girls are aiming for careers and university than in the past is one suggested reason for the rise.’ Like climate change there’s something happening.

On Mentors

2010-07-17T06:42:29Z

One of the most effective ways of improving and nurturing talent is to get them a mentor. We had a result this week getting a really experienced mentor for a really new entrepreneur. The conversation went along the lines of: ‘if you could have anyone as your mentor who would it be?’

Co-ops are Cool

2010-07-05T05:05:28Z

So according to the government co-ops are cool again hooray. As a workers co-op ourselves we could have told them so. Our utopia isn’t perfect but we have a better chance of winning when we pull together and of equally sharing the power the glory and the blame. Perfect? Well not quite and it takes some getting used to if you’ve worked in a more formal hierarchy. New recruits to us usually take about a year to adjust. They waste time looking round for permission or approval, there’s a sense of disconnect from ‘proper’ business until the penny drops we are the business.

Three reviews by Paula Denison, MD SESC

2010-04-23T05:51:43Z

Three reviews by Paula Denison, MD SESC that can usefully inform discussions on some key sector issues.

Strictly More Dancing

2009-09-18T10:23:33Z

In his book Teaching the Elephant to Dance, James Belasco makes the analogy that organisations are like elephants – slow to change. For anyone who has spent two years or more trying to sell a service to the public sector (there are many) and feeling like they are just not talking to the right people this may resonate. Someone mentioned the new compact to me the other day – I so want to believe that it will be a force for change.

Welcome to our new site

2009-09-14T05:57:56Z

It’s not the only new thing we are up to: recent frenetic activity has seen us open for business in Bradford providing coaching, information and support for Bradford people wanting to set up a community business. Our team is growing and we are keen to meet as many as possible to launch the Enterprising Communities programme with the energy and enthusiasm that clients recognise at SESC – especially in Rachel who will be blogging here over the coming months.