BSSEC » Business support for social enterprises

Help & support for co-operatives, mutuals and community-led enterprises

June 02, 2021

If you already are or are planning to set up a co-operative, mutual or other type of community-led enterprise, you may want to know more about specialist support provider, Co-operative Futures. The company works nationally but has a strong West Midlands focus. Some of its servi

Continue Reading →

WMCA launches new creative & cultural social enterprise support pilot

February 08, 2021

The West Midlands Combined Authority has just launched a pilot project to test new approaches to developing cultural & creative social enterprises. The programme is supported by the Greater Birmingham & Solihull LEP, Black Country Consortium (LEP) and Arts Council England. WMC

Continue Reading →

School for Social Entrepreneurs is promoting three new programmes

December 17, 2020

The School for Social Entrepreneurs is currently promoting three new programmes of support for social entrepreneurs and we said we’d help get the word out. The programmes are as follows: Black Social Entrepreneurs Futures Programme This programme is for people who iden

Continue Reading →

New social investment support programme for social enterprises & third sector

September 03, 2020

Through its Social Investment Catalyst Programme the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) is offering six free online masterclasses between 10th September and 19th November. The sessions will include a variety of expert keynote speakers from the VCSE sector across the Midl

Continue Reading →

Bright Enterprise — BE more enterprising, BE more you: helping women entrepreneurs towards their first £1,000 of turnover

August 13, 2020

iSE has just announced a new women’s enterprise support programme, operating from its Women’s Enterprise & Community Hub (WECH) in Sparkbrook. The announcement reads: The Women’s Enterprise and Community Hub (WECH), based in Sparkbrook, announces a new enterprise

Continue Reading →

September 2020 FUSE programme is open to applications now

August 13, 2020

Further to this post, iSE has just announced that its social enterprise start-up programme targeting new health and wellbeing-led enterprises has opened for a further enrolment for September. Applications close at the end of August and the programme will begin in September (date

Continue Reading →

Free WiSE Wednesday webinar from iSE — Recovery, Innovation & Growth: 22nd July

July 15, 2020

iSE CIC announces the expert speaker for the next WiSE Wednesday webinar on Wednesday 22nd July 2020 at 10.00am. She is award-winning social entrepreneur Daniella Genas, founder of She’s The Boss and international speaker on innovation, motivation and growth, an

Continue Reading →

National Lottery and partners announce £18.7m Social Enterprise Support Fund

July 13, 2020

This terrific news, just in… The Social Enterprise Support Fund, a brand new £18.7m support fund for social enterprises, funded by The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK, has just opened and is taking applications now. The Social

Continue Reading →

WiSE Wednesday — free webinar from iSE: Levering Localism with Kevin Davis, CEO The Vine Trust

July 05, 2020

The next of iSE’s WiSE Wednesday free webinars takes place on Wednesday 8 July at 10am and is given by Kevin Davis, CEO of The Vine Trust and a Black Country LEP Board Member. He will be talking about Levering Localism. Kevin Davis will pose the que

Continue Reading →

iSE opens second FUSE new-starts programme to meet high demand

June 30, 2020

Following exceptionally high demand for registration, social enterprise development organisation iSE has reopened its FUSE start-up programme to new applications for an additional July programme. If you have an emerging social enterprise idea with potential to create social impact and

Continue Reading →

iSE celebrates 20th anniversary

June 03, 2020

During June 2020 iSE celebrates its 20th anniversary. BSSEC and iSE have worked together for almost the entirety of that time and for a good part of it Sarah has also served as chair of BSSEC and one of its Directors. I think many will agree that without the efforts of Sarah and her v

Continue Reading →

WiSE Wednesday webinar #3 — Developing an Agile Workforce

May 20, 2020

Following on from the previous session on mentoring for change, iSE CIC announces its third social enterprise WiSE Wednesday webinar, Developing an Agile Workforce with HR specialists Roots HR CIC on Wednesday 27th May at 2.00pm. Roots HR Director, Alison Smit

Continue Reading →

iSE’s FUSE start-up programme now open — new online delivery from June

May 18, 2020

iSE provides new-start social entrepreneurs with support and development opportunities to build sustainable social enterprises. Its FUSE programme is for near-trade or early-start stage social entrepreneurs in the West Midlands that want to fast-track their idea, grow networ

Continue Reading →

Human Lending Library recruits ‘crisis experts’ offering FREE advice

May 11, 2020

Further to this post, more news just in about new experts joining the Human Lending Library scheme in Birmingham. Read on for more. In response to the challenges social enterprises and charities are facing due to coronavirus, four new experts have joined the Human Lending Library to o

Continue Reading →

iSE offers WiSE Wednesday webinar — Mentoring for Change

May 07, 2020

iSE CIC is excited to announce the second WiSE Wednesday webinar, Mentoring for Change with Kendra Walsh, Director of Expert Impact, home of the Human Lending Library. There’s a lot of talk about ‘pivoting you business’ but what does it mean, how do

Continue Reading →

BVSC offers free financial advice & support for smaller charities and social enterprises in Birmingham

May 07, 2020

BVSC has just announced that it is making available free advice and support on financial resilience for the city’s smaller charities and social enterprises that have been hit hard by the coronavirus crisis. It is targeting organisations with a turnover below £100,000 a year.

Continue Reading →

Human Lending Library launches in Birmingham

April 06, 2020

Following in the footsteps of London, Manchester and New York, iSE is delighted to be working with charity Expert Impact to bring the Human Lending Library to Birmingham. What is the Human Lending Library? The Human Lending Library connects some of the world’s most succ

Continue Reading →

iSE — free business support for more established Birmingham & Solihull social enterprise leadership teams

April 03, 2020

iSE CIC is now able to offer social enterprise chief executives, owners and leaders insightful and in-depth business support through these challenging times, thanks to a new GBSLEP and ERDF funded project. Directed at more established Birmingham & Solihull social enterprises and t

Continue Reading →

iSE announces #COVID19 Social Enterprise Helpline

March 27, 2020

iSE has just made the following announcement about a very welcome social enterprise helpline to provide much-needed support and advice for the sector during the Covid-19 emergency. The helpline launches on Monday 30th March 2020. Read on for details… * * * In response to th

Continue Reading →

iSE announces women’s FUSE programme now open for applications

February 28, 2020

iSE has just announced that its women’s FUSE programme is now open for 2020 applications. Delivered with HSBC, the FUSE programme helps women in the West Midlands who want to start social enterprises. See below. Please note booking is essential. To book send mail to Ashleigh How

Continue Reading →

12 3 4 5

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