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100s of guests and over 50 exhibitors celebrate recognition of Birmingham as a social enterprise city

April 27, 2018
by Alun Severn
0 Comment
UPDATED 14th June 2018: More coverage of this event and Birmingham’s Social Enterprise ~City achievement HERE. Today, the final day of City Drive 2018, also marked Birmingham’s successful bid to be recognised as a Social Enterprise City and it saw the city’s social e
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The changing face of social enterprise — TRiM (Transforming Running into Mindfulness)

April 27, 2018
by Alun Severn
0 Comment
Today, as part of our continuing series of stories illustrating the changing face of social enterprise we look at something very different — a new health and wellbeing enterprise that aims to use running as a means of improving students’ mental health.  A Birmingham-b
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Who starts new social enterprises and why? Three recent new-starts told us their extraordinary stories

April 24, 2018
by Alun Severn
1 Comment
For nine months or so now, as part of an Awards for All funded project, we have been documenting the changing face of social enterprise by covering the stories of newer, younger social enterprises that are new on the scene. What’s it like to start a new social enterprise in the
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Retail Therapy Event at John Lewis, Birmingham – City Drive week

April 20, 2018
by Mark Ellerby
0 Comment
 Retail Therapy Event, with Martin Hogg, Citizen Coaching CIC Tuesday 24th April 2pm-4.30pm Part of City Drive Week Join Martin, for a ‘warts and all’ roundtable discussion to explore retail challenges, successes and what what’s working in social enterprise retail. We’ll cov
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UnLtd’s Impact Investment Fund — drop-in event Birmingham

April 16, 2018
by Alun Severn
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Are you an early stage social venture working in the employment sector? Do you need investment and practical support to scale your venture? Then UnLtd wants to hear from you. UnLtd’s Impact Investment Fund will shortly hold three drop-in sessions — relaxed and informa
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Success! Birmingham’s social enterprise city application approved

April 16, 2018
by Alun Severn
1 Comment
In this post we drew attention to the closing day of City Drive 2018 when there will be a grand social enterprise festival at the banqueting suite of the Council House [details below]. Well, we have just had news confirming that there really will be something worth celebrati
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Unity Trust Bank’s record growth attracts £11m of new investment

April 12, 2018
by Alun Severn
0 Comment
Birmingham-based Unity Trust Bank has just announced record growth resulting in the bank attracting £11m of new investment. Unity is a commercial bank for firms with a social benefit and today announced its 2017 annual results: profits and new lending were up by over 20%. The bank len
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City Drive 2018 — full programme released, including invitation to SE Festival

April 11, 2018
by Alun Severn
0 Comment
The folk at iSE have been pulling out all the stops again and the full programme for City Drive 2018 is now available, kicking off on Monday 23rd April. Also of note, invitations for the City Drive’s flagship Social Enterprise Festival have also been released — see below.
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Resonance celebrates launch of West Mids impact fund — central Birmingham event, you are invited

April 10, 2018
by Alun Severn
0 Comment
Resonance, a relatively small social investment company, may be a new name to many readers but in just a matter of months it has become a significant new player in what it calls social impact funding in the West Midlands. Using an already proven model that takes advantage of social in
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There’s still time to feature in our coverage of newer, younger social enterprises

April 09, 2018
by Alun Severn
1 Comment
As part of our Big Lottery ‘Awards for All’ project we’re still on the hunt for interesting news stories from newer, younger social enterprises that will help illustrate new, changing and emerging trends in the sector.  We’ve been posting these stories on
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New-start stories: the unvarnished truth — 23rd April, 5-7pm, Evolve @ The Adam & Eve

April 09, 2018
by Alun Severn
1 Comment
It’s extremely hard for new social enterprises to find a time and place to discuss shared problems, reflect on their experiences, have a good natter — and if needs be let off steam. We thought it would be a good idea to sponsor a City Drive event which we hope will offer j
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What does a social enterprise consultant do all day?

April 04, 2018
by Alun Severn
0 Comment
If you have ever wondered what a social enterprise consultant does all day, there is a terrific post over on the iSE website by Elizabeth Forrester which will satisfy your curiosity. From fine-tuning business models to developing marketing strategies; from financial planning to confid
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Share your memories of John Taylor Hospice

April 04, 2018
by Alun Severn
0 Comment
John Taylor Hospice, the UK’s only social enterprise hospice, has just launched an appeal for stories, reminiscences and memories from people who have some prior connection with the hospice. For more than 100 years JTH has helped and supported thousands of families and employed
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Latest news on the blog

Exterior restoration of historic Argent Centre completed
Apr 13, 2021
Community conversation events -- Business in the Community and Midland Metro Alliance
Apr 12, 2021
Social Enterprise Drive 21 -- all events open for booking
Apr 06, 2021
Human Library Birmingham offers free mentoring for SE leaders & founders in WM
Mar 30, 2021

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BIRMINGHAM & SOLIHULL SOCIAL ECONOMY CONSORTIUM C.I.C., trading as BSSEC. A community interest company registered in England and Wales with company no. 07992674. Registered office: c/o Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP, 134 Edmund Street, Birmingham B3 2ES | All rights reserved | Copyright 2013-BSSEC | Created by Citizen Click