Links

Here you will find a list of websites for companies and organisations relevant to Social Firm development.

Excelsior Plus

Excelsior Plus is a Convergence ESF-funded NVQ scheme which is part of the wider strategic project, ‘Working Skills for Adults’, funded until December 2014. Excelsior Plus provides NVQ opportunities in the workplace to employees and volunteers of local companies and social enterprises in the following six counties: Bridgend, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Merthyr Tydfil, Caerphilly, Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen. There is no charge to employees, volunteers or employers for the NVQ training and assessment provided by Excelsior Plus. The team of NVQ assessors working on Excelsior Plus have successfully delivered work-based NVQs to many organisations across Wales.  

Social Firms Scotland

Our purpose is to grow the Social Firm sector in Scotland in order to increase employment opportunities for severely disadvantaged people. In order to do this we conduct a range of activities including:
Business Acquisition - a pilot project looking at buying businesses and converting them to Social Firms.

• Supporting Social Firm Development - find out what support that you might need and how we could help.

• Influencing Policy and Research - Social Firms Scotland is a Voice for the Sector, campaigning and raising   awareness of the business model as a solution to employability issues.

• Advice on Supportive Employment Practice.

• Growing The Sector - How can we encourage growth in the Social Firm sector? 

• Training, Events, and Mapping the Sector. 

Social Firms Europe

Social Firms Europe CEFEC is the only network of Social Firms across Europe!
At a time when employment is increasingly difficult for individuals who are at a significant distance from the labour market because of their disability or disadvantage, it is essential that we create the jobs for such groups and one of the most obvious solutions is to facilitate the start-up and operation of Social Firm and social co-operative businesses that offer real, paid, sustainable employment options within a supportive working environment.
Social Firms Europe CEFEC is a truly participative and integrative network, working on behalf of its members across all the EU member states to:

• Promote the model of Social Firms and social co-operatives at EU, national and regional levels

• Collect data and evidencing about the impact of Social Firms

• Facilitate networking and sharing of best practice between members

• Share skills and expertise of members

• Encourage and explore opportunities for further research into the Social Firm model as it operates in different EU countries

• Promote and facilitate where possible inter-trading opportunities between Social Firm businesses

Business Balls 

Businessballs is a free ethical learning and development resource for people and organizations, run by Alan Chapman, in Leicester, England.
The concept began a few years earlier as an experimental online collection of learning and development ideas. The website is now used by about a million people each month. Alan originally created the Businessballs name for juggling balls which he used in his training and development business.
The philosophy of the website is intended to be ethical, practical, innovative, compassionate and enjoyable.
Website functionality and services will improve progressively, with the continuing aim of enabling positive ethical change in work and life, and beyond.

Business in Focus

Business in Focus’ mission is to help new business start ups and established businesses to succeed through providing an extensive range of expert and practical business support services that are either totally subsidised, part subsidised or paid for by the client. These services include business mentoring, financing business growth, business consultancy, business training and business accommodation. These services can be delivered throughout South Wales.

Base - British Association for Supported Employment

BASE is a membership organisation for supported employment agencies and supported businesses in the UK. This site gives a wide range of information and services to our members and others interested in supported employment. BASE was formed in 2006 through the merger of the National Association of Supported Employment and Association for Supported Employment. Both associations had been active in the area of supported employment in the UK since the early 1990's. It was felt that a unified voice was essential to protect the interests of the industry and to develop best practice within it.

Department of Work and Pensions - Disability Unit

The Disability and Carers Service is part of the Pension, Disability and Carers Service (PDCS) which is an executive agency of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). It provides financial support for customers claiming disability benefits and their carers – for example, Disability Living Allowance and Carer’s Allowance.

Flexible Support for Business

The Welsh Assembly Government recognises the importance of social enterprise and provides a package of support for the sector. This includes business advice, practical support on training, and funding for eligible projects. They also provide funding for several organisations that support social enterprises in Wales.

Social Enterprise Training and Support (SETAS)

Do you run a social enterprise and need to find relevant, reliable and recommended sources of support services, training events and resources?

Do you provide social enterprise support, training or consultancy and need to promote your services to the social enterprises who need them most?

Then SETAS is here to help you.
 

Social Audit Network

SAN Ltd is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, with a membership operating throughout the UK. There are two member categories within SAN Ltd from which the board are elected:
Ordinary Members. Organisations and individuals who support the objectives of SAN and who are active in promoting, facilitating and/or practising the SAN social accounting and audit process; and
SAN Approved Social Auditors, based in the UK and listed in the Register of Social Auditors.
Our board members are from across the UK and many also act in the capacity of Regional Co-ordinator. Click here for your regional co-ordinator
SAN approved social auditors, resident and practising outside the UK are Associate Members, without voting rights.
In addition, SAN also has over 1400 people subscribed to receive the free monthly SAN circular and may use the email Network and the circular to share information and make contact with other practitioners.
 

Social Enterprise Coalition UK

The Social Enterprise Coalition is the UK's national body for social enterprise.

The Social Enterprise Coalition represents a wide range of social enterprises, regional and national support networks and other related organisations. We believe that social enterprise is the right way to do business and we work with our members to:

• Promote the benefits of social enterprise through the media, campaigning and events.
• Promote best practice amongst social enterprises through networks and publications. A key part of the Coalition's work is to enable social enterprises to share know how, network and do business. We publish a range of case studies, 'how to' guides and training materials.
• Inform the policy agenda working with key decision makers. Our aim is to improve the operating environment for social enterprise by advising government, informing consultations and hosting policy events.
• We influence politicians across the political spectrum, generating support for social enterprise. Political engagement has been the bedrock of the Coalition's work in promoting social enterprise and in pushing the issue up the policy agenda.
• Undertake research to expand the social enterprise evidence base.