External Resources
Business Link in London - Business Planning tool
Business Link London have developed a new Business Planning Tool specifically for social enterprise to help you through the process of writing a business plan.
The Business Planning Tool is an interactive framework that provides a step-by-step approach to developing your business plan. You will be provided with detailed guidance notes and links to practical guides for any further information you may need as you progress through the tool and write your plan.
You can access the toolkit here. You will need to register once to start using it.
Divine Chocolate: A Case Study of a Social Enterprise
Divine Chocolate is proud of its history as a pioneering social enterprise which is now 45% owned by cocoa farmers in Ghana. As a contribution to Global Enterprise Week (16-22 November, 2009) Divine has produced a free Powerpoint presentation aimed at teachers focusing on business studies, enterprise or social enterprise. It showcases Divine Chocolate as an example of a successful social enterprise.
The presentation has comprehensive speaking notes and takes between 30 and 40 minutes to deliver in full. There is one version aimed at Key Stage 3 (11-14 year olds) and one aimed at Key Stage 4 (14-16 year olds).
The Case Study can be downloaded from http://www.tradingvisions.org/content/social-enterprise.
Note: You will be asked for your email address which will help us keep track of how widely it is being used and so we can contact you in future if we update the presentation or produce new social enterprise related resources. We will never pass your details on to any other organisation.
Have an idea to improve your community?
As part of Social Enterprise Day, win a day of free support with an expert member of the Think Public team by texting your idea to 07941 143 771. Visit http://thinkpublic.com/news (Deadline: 19 Nov)
Blueprint for Enterprise
This Blueprint tool, launched by Training For Life, helps guide third sector organisations through some of the demands that commercial life is likely to make; such as developing an asset base, analysing your competitive position, auditing and utilisation of resources and more. Visit http://www.blueprintsforenterprise.com/
Office space to rent in Holborn
Are you a small or medium-sized business looking for short to medium term office space in a prime central London location? Would you like to find yourself on the doorstep of a second-to-none range of cafés, bars, shops and restaurants? You’ll be sharing the space with FreshMinds
A business planning guide to developing a social enterprise (3748 kb)
A business planning guide to developing a social enterprise (3748 kb)
Social Enterprise Training and Support (SETAS)
The UK's online marketplace for Social Enterprise Training and Support (SETAS) was re-launched last week at www.setas.co.uk. On the site social enterprises can search for and receive automated notifications of relevant support providers as well as give feedback on support you've received. Support providers can register to be listed on the site and can promote their services and events to relevant social enterprises in their region. There are also discussion groups around key support topics such as legal concerns and business planning - and a dedicated group for Londoners.