Barrow Cadbury Trust: Eco-systems Roundtables

In 2022, through funding support from Barrow Cadbury Trust, BSSEC CIC began running a series of Roundtables around the theme of ‘eco-systems’ that are online, small group, based.

The purpose of these eco-systems Roundtables is to further support the development of the social enterprise sector across Birmingham and the region, raise awareness of opportunities for the sector and to provide a ‘voice’ for the sector in the social economy growth agenda across the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) area.

As such, the reports from these Roundtables are shared with the WMCA Social Economy Taskforce and influence the actions, outcomes and further development of the Social Economy Framework for Growth.

The format of introductions by BSSEC CIC and panel of expert speakers sharing sector knowledge and organisational perspective approaches followed by open group discussion, enable everyone to ‘have a voice’ and be heard… whether its the about challenges or innovation, outcomes or successes.

Roundtables are facilitated by Sarah Beaumont, BSSEC CIC Director and Strategic Lead.

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1. Growing Eco-Systems (24^th May 2022)

Panel speakers: WMCA, Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP, Feed My Creative CIC

2. Networks and Clusters (1^st July 2022)

Panel speakers: CLES, Birmingham City Council, Birmingham We Are, iSE CIC

3. Social Procurement (27^th September 2022)

Panel speakers: The Active Wellbeing Society, Birmingham City Council, CLES, Black Country LEP

4. Social Value and Impact Economies (30^th November 2022)

Panel speakers: Black Country LEP, Birmingham City Council, Key Fund, WMCA

Following the success of these knowledge-based Roundtables, a 2023 eco-systems series has built on the sector demand for high quality insights and having a voice in influencing the regional social economy with feedback reports being shared with the West Midlands Combined Authority Social Economy Taskforce.

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1. Developing a Social Finance Eco-system in the West Midlands (16^th May 2023)

Panel speakers: Big Society Capital, CJD Consultancy, The Key Fund, ART Business Loans

2. Business Support within the Social Economy Eco-system (4th July 2023)

Panel speakers: Access – The Foundation for Social Investment, Access to Business, Citizen Coaching, Birmingham Community Matters

3. Strategic Branding for the Social Economy (5th September 2023)

Panel speakers: Fovea Creative, iSE CIC