BLACKPOOL SOCIAL ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS
This project seeks to build on a strong track record of supporting social enterprise development in Blackpool over the past few years. The Social Enterprise Development Project will continue and extend the work of the very successful Blackpool Entrepreneur Development Project (BSED).
The initiative is led by a new community interest company, Social Enterprise Solutions. This team comprises of three experienced social enterprise business mentors, a project manager and an administrator.
It is based at the New Blackpool Enterprise Centre where there is a managed “hot desk” facility and a test trading environment for fledgling businesses.
The Local Enterprise Growth Initiative fund is contributing £410k to this project over a two and a half year period. The project seeks to:
- Build capacity through mentoring and training
- Develop networks and supply chains
- Assist social enterprises to tender for contracts
- Assist new social enterprises emerging from the voluntary, private and public sectors
- Save costs in the public sector while improving public services
- Connect with the HERO education project to bring a social enterprise culture into schools and colleges
- Seek additional funding to increase the scope of this work
Outputs over the two and a half years include:
- 15 new social enterprises, 10 of which will be “significant”
- 45 social enterprises given intensive assistance
- 75 new jobs
- Turnover in social enterprises increased by £1.75m
- Distribution of £40k in grants through the social enterprise growth fund
- Securing of 10 public sector contracts by supported social enterprises
Project Lead Contact: Clive Hirst, Blackpool Enterprise Community Interest Company. Contact number: 07951457972, e-mail: clive@blackpoolenterprise.org.uk