News

Paul Henry of Inspire2Enterprise will be speaking about social investment at the Inspiring Social Enterprises in Lincolnshire event.

Taking place on 14th June, the event has been designed to promote social enterprises in Lincolnshire and the surrounding areas and to encourage firms to buy the products and services of social enterprises locally. Social enterprises will be given a 90 second slot to stand up and sell their products and services throughout the day.

There will be speakers, panel discussions and workshops taking place throughout the day.

For more information, and to book onto the event, click here.

Evolve 2013, a new annual event for the voluntary sector is taking place in London on Monday 17^th June.

Organised in partnership by the NCVO and Volunteering England, the event will be the largest conference of its kind and is designed to share knowledge and learn from the sector’s collective experience.

The event will feature debates and discussions and tailored workshops along with the Evolve Marketplace – 50 exhibition stands providing advice, support and expertise to organisations.

To find out more about the event and to book, click here.

Managed by Young Chamber Ltd (YCUK) on behalf of the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS), the Awards honour and celebrate the best public and private sector work that promotes business development in communities across the UK.

There are four categories in this year’s awards; the most enterprising place in the UK, the organisation that best promotes enterprise, the organisation most successful in encouraging businesses to export, and the school or FE college that is best at supporting enterprise ambition in young people.

For more information on the awards, click here.

The ninth Third Sector Excellence Awards are now open for entry.

Open to all UK-based voluntary organisations – registered charities, not-for-profit organisations, social enterprises and campaigning groups – the awards were established to discover and showcase outstanding campaigns and achievements in charities and voluntary organisations over the past year.

There are 18 categories available, including enterprise, best start-up, the big impact award and volunteer of the year.

Voluntary organisations can enter for free.  Entries must cover work carried out during the period 1st May 2012 to 30th April 2013 and must be submitted by Thursday 30th May.

The awards ceremony will take place on Thursday 26th September.

For more information on the awards, and how to enter, click here.

The New Anglia Enterprise Partnership has launched a ‘Growing Business Fund’.   The fund is aimed at helping businesses that want to grow but have been held back by lack of finance.  The scheme will invest £3 million of Regional Growth Funds Between April 2013 and March 2015, creating 250 local jobs

Grants of up to 20% will be available, between £25,000 and £100,000, to businesses that have a shortfall in their investment plans and are able to create at least one job for every £10,000 the fund provides.

For more information, and to view the eligibility criteria, click here.

Hertfordshire County Council have launched their second Social Enterprise Innovation Fund (SEIF). The Community Wellbeing & Social Enterprise Innovation Fund will provide start up investment of a total of £50,000, with individual awards of up to a maximum of £10,000. The fund is open to existing Civil Society Organisations who want to develop new social enterprise activities which address one of the following:

• promote independence and physical and mental wellbeing
• reduce preventable ill health and disability
• support and sustain carers
• encourage self-reliance, community cohesion, social enterprise and volunteering

The application deadline is Midday on Friday 17th May and applicants will be notified by 24th May.

Presentations by shortlisted applicants to the Investment Panel will take place on the 3rd and/or 4th June.

A half day workshop is being held on 18th April 2013, designed to help organisations produce a high quality application.

Details of the workshop, guidance notes on completing the application and the application form can all be found at:

http://www.hertsdirect.org/your-community/funding/socentinn/

Social Enterprise Conference 2013

23rd April, Immarsat Conference Centre, London

The National Housing Federation and Social Enterprise UK are jointly organising this event to demonstrate the importance of both sectors working together.  It will look at how housing associations and social enterprises can work effectively in partnership to increase social and economic contribution to local communities.

Speakers include:

Peter Holbrook, Chief Executive, Social Enterprise UK

Chris White MP, Warwick and Leamington

Caroline Mason, Chief Operating Officer, Big Society Capital

Nick Hurd MP, Minister for Civil Society

The conference is aimed at all housing association and social enterprise employees.

The booking cost for NHF members and social enterprises is £225. For more information on the conference, click here.

There is now under a month to go until employers are required to report PAYE information to HMRC in real time.

This change, coming into place on 6th April, requires employers to send details to HMRC every time they pay an employee, at the time they pay them, and use payroll software to send this information electronically as part of their routine payroll process.

By now, employers should have chosen the best RTI-ready payroll option and ensured they have up-to-date information on all employees.

HMRC are launching RTI Week, an extensive marketing campaign to raise awareness of the change, with a week-long Twitter Q&A designed to answer any questions you may have.  Take part by using #RTIqa.

There is also extensive guidance on PAYE in real time, along with any other PAYE information you may need on the HMRC website.  Click here for more.

Need more advice? Contact the Inspire2Enterprise team who are here to help.

The University of Northampton has become the first university in the UK to be designated a a ‘Changemaker Campus’ by Ashoka U, the global association of the world’s leading universities supporting social entrepreneurs.

Recognising the University’s commitment to social innovation and entrepreneurship , the award came after an intensive 12-month process during which every aspect of the University’s social enterprise strategy, philosophy and ethos was tested; from its leadership and culture, to its social enterprise curriculum and impact.

Michele Leaman, from Ashoka U explained, “The University of Northampton’s commitment is so powerful it can be seen everywhere you look across the institution. Social innovation and entrepreneurship is on every corner at Northampton, offering a unique example of a Changemaker Campus.”

Nick Petford, Vice Chancellor, University of Northampton said, “This is fantastic news. It not only recognises the amazing things the University has achieved as number one for social enterprise, the Ashoka U Changemaker Campus designation sends a clear message that the University of Northampton is the place to be if you want to be a change maker of the future.”

For more information on the award, click here.

Plunkett Foundation has announced the Community Shop Awards, welcoming applications from community shops throughout the UK and Ireland to celebrate best practice within the  sector.

Nominations are now open for the following six awards:

•    Contribution to Community Life
•    Rewarding Volunteers
•    Co-operation in Action
•    Creative Display
•    Retail Innovation
•    Better Business

Sponsored by Hastoe Housing Association the awards are designed to recognise and reward community shops for achieving excellence in community engagement, volunteer management, co-operation and sales techniques.

The awards are free to enter, with applications closing on 12th April 2013.

For more information on the awards, and how to enter, click here.